NY Mets prospect they refused to trade hints at how they feel about Ronny Mauricio

Prospect poker has a new dealer in Queens, but the New York Mets still have a tell. David Stearns keeps a calm table presence, but the real story is in the cards, not the commentary. When the Mets make a move, it reveals who they value as much as who they’re willing to lose. You have to know where to look. Often, it’s less about the player traded and more about the one they quietly keep.

During the recent trade deadline, they didn’t move Drew Gilbert because they soured on him. They moved him because they have plans for Carson Benge. That’s how this front office operates: belief in one prospect quietly writes the obituary for another. Which makes the Jacob Reimer decision a whole lot more interesting. If the Amazins were fully sold on Ronny Mauricio, wouldn’t Jacob Reimer have been on the next outbound flight?

The Mets’ refusal to trade Jacob Reimer at the deadline reveals lingering doubts about Mauricio’s future role.

At just 21 years old, Reimer generated plenty of deadline buzz as a potential trade chip, and yet the Mets held firm. Across 91 games between High-A and Double-A, he’s posted a .267 average with an .840 OPS, 12 homers, 66 runs scored, and 57 RBIs. The numbers haven’t exactly broken Baseball Twitter, but the Mets clearly like what they see. Reimer’s mature approach at the plate and steady development track seem to have bought him more than just time; they’ve bought him protection.

And that’s where Mauricio enters the picture. If the Mets were convinced he was their long-term third baseman, Reimer might’ve been the prospect on the move. Instead, they’ve kept both, and that feels like a hedge. Mauricio's raw tools still shine, but the bat remains a work in progress. He’s hitting .236 with a .306 OBP and a 110 OPS+, showing flashes of the pop that once made him a top-100 prospect. But the chase rate, whiffs, and strikeouts keep piling up. The power’s loud, but the at-bats are too inconsistent and undisciplined, the kind that make it tough to trust the upside just yet.

Defensively, Mauricio has earned his keep. His 5 outs above average at third base tie him with José Ramírez and place him ahead of Ryan McMahon. That’s not just solid, it’s standout. But if the glove alone were enough to secure a long-term role, the Mets wouldn’t be shielding another third baseman from trade talks. Holding onto Reimer isn’t just about liking his progress; it might be their way of keeping options open if Mauricio stalls.

The Mets may keep their cards close, but their refusal to trade Reimer reveals a subtle doubt about Mauricio’s staying power. It’s a quiet reminder that in Queens, confidence isn’t given, it’s earned. Mauricio’s flashes of talent keep him in the mix, but until he proves he can consistently deliver, the Mets will keep betting on the safer hand.