MLB insider gets casually specific about which NY Mets prospects could get traded

In his recent story for ESPN, Jeff Passan discussed how much more the New York Mets need to do. Among the topics were potential trades, Lars Nootbaar came up as a name to be on the look out for in addition to some of the other well-known pitchers.

Easy to gloss over is how specific Passan got with some of the prospects the Mets could deal. Brandon Sproat was named as the most likely to get traded. Joining him were two other starting pitching prospects whom Passan notes could fly through anyone’s system and be a major leaguer by 2027.

Jonathan Santucci and R.J. Gordon are a pair of Mets prospects Jeff Passan expects to be desirable on the trade block

If you thought some of these other Mets pitching prospects hate riding the buses in the minors, check out Jonathan Santucci. Drafted in the second round in 2024, he didn’t debut until 2025 and already looks like he’s a handful of games in Double-A from being in Triple-A. After that, who knows?

Having pitched at Duke, the Mets haven’t felt the need to hold him back. He wasn’t exceptional in High-A, posting a 3.46 ERA. His 1.25 WHIP would suggest he had some things to work on and wasn’t merely the victim of some bad luck.

Santucci actually got better once promoted. In 10 Double-A starts the lefty starter was 4-0 with a 2.52 ERA. His strikeout rate increased to 11.3 K/9 from the 10 K/9 it was in High-A. What he did really well was prevent hits. He went from a dastardly 8.2 hits per 9 to 5.9.

Taken in that same 2024 draft, but much further, was R.J. Gordon. The Mets selected him in the 13th round and the results don’t match. Gordon followed Santucci from Brooklyn to Binghamton and improved several aspects of his game even if the ERA ticked up. He walked batters at a rate of just 2.2 per 9 and struck them out at a 10.5 K/9 clip.

If there’s one downside to Gordon it’s that he’s already 24, celebrating with friends, family, and an enemy or two back in October. He wouldn’t have quite the same appeal as Santucci. Draft placement does matter when players are that young and inexperienced. Gordon has to prove himself more while Santucci is living up to the billing.

The plethora of Mets pitching prospects at Double-A or higher gives them a multitude of trade options. Other teams’ preferences for MLB-ready arms or ones to groom for another season, which comes with additional control as well, should have them achieve any trade they dream of.

Beyond Santucci and Gordon, pitchers like Jack Wenninger, Will Watson, and Zach Thornton should be considered in the mix as well. That’s a whole lot of arms to deal. The Mets can’t keep them all.