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Checking in on the prospects from the NY Mets trade of David Robertson 3 years later

How is their development going?
Mar 15, 2024; Port St. Lucie, Florida, USA; New York Mets second baseman Marco Vargas (66) participates in the Spring Breakout game against the Washington Nationals at Clover Park. Mandatory Credit: Jim Rassol-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 15, 2024; Port St. Lucie, Florida, USA; New York Mets second baseman Marco Vargas (66) participates in the Spring Breakout game against the Washington Nationals at Clover Park. Mandatory Credit: Jim Rassol-USA TODAY Sports | USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Connect

History is repeating itself with the New York Mets in 2026. We’re headed toward a path of selling instead of buying. The last time the Mets were giving away pieces in the middle of the year was in 2023. It seemingly began on July 28th when David Robertson was sent to the Miami Marlins for a pair of prospects on nobody’s radar.

Leading up to sell-offs, fans love to try and figure out which prospects they can snatch from other organizations. Nobody had Ronald Hernandez and Marco Vargas on their list of players to add. Two lower-level prospects who immediately put together a good performance, things have stalled out somewhat.

The 2023 David Robertson trade has stalled for the Mets

Hernandez is with HIgh-A Brooklyn currently hitting .233/.362/.388. The OBP is pretty awesome and the 7 home runs aren’t so bad. He’s a 22-year-old catcher throwing out runners at a 16% rate. Players at this position are always tricky. What faults do you accept and how much do you exchange for offense?

More athletic than some others at his position, Hernandez has stolen 40 bases and been caught only 7 times this year and last combined. He was with Brooklyn in 2025 as well, improving offensively this season from a .224/.318/.335 slash line. So, while the current numbers aren’t making him a coveted prospect, at least he hasn’t flatlined.

Vargas was the more highly-touted prospect and unfortunately things haven’t gone better. He’s currently on the IL in Double-A with a .210/.331/.290 slash line. Limited power, never hitting more than 2 home runs in any professional season, he is more of a base stealer. He swiped 40 last season.

Only hitting .239 last year in Brooklyn, he’s just 21 so the panic button isn’t getting smashed quite yet. However, no growth in power will have him profiling more as a bench piece than anything else if he ever was to make it to the majors.

Vargas still ranks as the organization’s 19th prospect according to MLB Pipeline. An upcoming draft class and a few players behind him ready to pass, it’s possible he gets bumped off soon enough.

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