Astros rumors could put an end to an obvious NY Mets-Red Sox trade before it happens

Signing Bo Bichette had just about every New York Mets fan thinking the same thing: what do they do with Brett Baty? The logical conclusion was to send him to the Boston Red Sox in a package that would bring them an outfielder, namely Jarren Duran.

Missing out on Bichette leaves a hole for the Red Sox at third base that they believed would have been refilled by Alex Bregman. They have too many outfielders, the Mets don’t have enough while employing too many infielders. The match is perfect except the Houston Astros have something more.

In need of an outfielder themselves, it’s Houston that has emerged as a strong contender to bump the Mets out of contention for a Duran trade. They’re not necessarily interested in him, preferring Wilyer Abreu. Whether they get Duran or Abreu, the Mets have serious competition.

The Astros have the better trade chip to sell the Red Sox than the Mets

The Mets can always win out in a trade if they pair a really good secondary player alongside Baty. If they’re reluctant to do that, a swap between Boston and Houston could likely feature Isaac Paredes becoming the answer at the hot corner in Beantown. Far more proven than Baty with only his 27th birthday coming up, he’s a young more established player.

Houston’s roster right now has little room for Paredes. He’s on their bench according to Roster Resource, playing a platoon role alongside someone. It’s not clear who because both players also in a platoon situation are outfielders.

The outfield has been rather vacant for the Astros. Left field was a mess last year with Mauricio Dubon and Jose Altuve spending the most time there. Right field featured Cam Smith, another one of the players the Astros received from the Chicago Cubs to rent Kyle Tucker for a year. He’s an odd one with only 32 games of minor league experience, all at third base. He actually rated well defensively last year as a right fielder. Abreu gives Houston a reigning Gold Glove winner while maybe moving Smith over to left field where he can grow into an even better defender.

Given the choice between Baty and Paredes, it’s easy for Boston. You pick Paredes. He isn’t leaps and bounds better than Baty based on last year’s statistics. It’s his three straight successful seasons that should have them preferring the displayed Astros third baseman over the one on the Mets roster.

The only hangup here would be if Boston isn’t willing to trade Abreu. The two teams playing in the American League together is a more minor reason as to why the deal may never get done.

According to The Athletic’s Astros beat writer Chandler Rome, no deal is imminent. That doesn’t mean the Mets should sit by idly while letting those trade talks fall apart. If Baty plus a prospect for Duran is something they’re willing to do, they should make the offer now.