Unique Red Sox-Nationals trade gave small hint of what this NY Mets player is worth

Curtis Mead better be good. Already traded for Cristopher Sanchez and later used in a rather dud of a deal for Adrian Houser at last year’s trade deadline, he made headlines again when the Boston Red Sox added him in a swap with the Washington Nationals late on Saturday. Mead is a 25-year-old and controllable third baseman having a powerful season in D.C. with 17 home runs. In a breakout campaign, it was a bit of a surprise to see him leave the New York Mets rival and become the apparent third base solution in Beantown.

To land him, the Red Sox gave up Connelly Early, a 24-year-old starting pitcher with a 3.24 ERA in 21 major league starts. He began the year as a prospect ranked in the 40s or 50s depending on where you look.

The Mets don’t have a Mead or an Early on their roster. They do have someone who isn’t so incredibly different, though. Francisco Alvarez has been the subject of some trade rumors. While the insiders are spraying some cold water on the idea, this trade between Boston and Washington provides one path about what the Mets could receive in exchange for him.

Francisco Alvarez might be worth someone’s Connelly Early

Alvarez is having a good offensive year, slashing .260/.332/.449 with 12 home runs. It’s about as satisfying as we could hope for. While we’d all love for him to challenge for 30 home runs again, the evenness of his slash line has appeal, too. The problem, or at least reason why many are speculating on his availability, is the defense. It’s on the decline and the Mets aren’t even trying to hide it with a few more regular starts out of backup catcher Luis Torrens and DH days for Alvarez this season.

Still only 24 and an even higher ranking than Early had back when Alvarez was a prospect, the high demand for catchers at this year’s trade deadline only adds to his value. He won’t be a rental. The best is still on the way.

A few things need to happen in order for the Mets to trade Alvarez. One is for them to actually have enough of an open mind to do it. We know the pitfalls of trading him. Developing into one of the league’s best at his position at age 25 isn’t off the table. Next is for another team to view him favorably enough behind the plate to make it their mission to acquire him.

If the situation was different with the Seattle Mariners and Cal Raleigh hadn’t mashed his way to an extension with a 60 home run season in 2025, they might be someone who would consider Alvarez. They have more than enough starting pitching and are reportedly willing to deal Emerson Hancock.

Alvarez, and even Torrens, are two of the more valuable Mets trade chips in a market where it seems most contenders want a new catcher. What feels more like an offseason trade might be available right now, possibly in part due to the impending CBA negotiations.

There should always be hesitation to trade a young player like Alvarez. The only kind of deal that could work is for someone already proving themselves in the majors. A pitcher or maybe a third baseman is about all the Mets should be willing to trade Alvarez for.

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