Crafty NY Mets-Red Sox trade idea has more questions than answers

Chelsea Janes is new on the New York Mets beat, formerly covering the Washington Nationals. After another loss where the offense no-showed, she put on her thinking cap and answered a couple of questions from fans. Headlining the answers was the idea of the Mets trading for disgruntled Boston Red Sox shortstop Trevor Story.

There’s more to it than the Mets adding Story in hopes of saving the season. Janes suggests that taking on the remainder of his salary, $25 million this year and next plus an additional $5 million buyout in 2028, could be a way to pair him alongside one of the many Red Sox outfielders. Jarren Duran would be the most practical as he is the oldest and having a bad year.

Boston isn’t going to sell any of their other outfielders who cost less and are playing better baseball both at the plate and on defense just because the Mets are taking on Story’s contract. It’s an outlandish yet crafty idea that’ll create more problems than it solves.

This is what’s wrong with the Mets trading for Trevor Story in the first place

Story immediately becomes the Mets’ temporary solution at shortstop while Francisco Lindor recovers. No update on when we can expect him back, the Mets are currently giving Bo Bichette regular action back at his most familiar position.

Story is having a Bichette-like season, hitting .200 with 55 strikeouts and a 33.3% K rate. Bichette has cut down on the K’s, but an absence of power like Story with each having only 2 home runs would have this feeling like, this does little to immediately help the Mets offense out short of them actually being able to snatch up an outfielder, too.

Even then, Durran is batting .194. Controlled through the 2028 season, he was a desirable offseason trade target for the Mets. He, far more than Story, would be a fit at the moment even with the idea dimming.

What the Mets should do instead

If the Mets are going to boldly do something like trade with the Red Sox in May or early June, they should skip over the addition of Story and actually pay whatever the prospect price is. Story has nowhere to go on the field upon Lindor’s return other than to the DH spot. If you thought he was disgruntled now, wait until the Mets sting his pride and tell him to leave his glove at home mid-season.

Since joining Boston, Story has hit .242/.294/.400. Injuries have gotten the best of him. He played in 94, 43, 26, and 157 games. Last year’s success, hitting 25 home runs and driving in 96 on top of stealing 31 bases, also came with 176 strikeouts and a .263/.308/.433 slash line. It’s not going to solve the Mets’ woes if he’s even that guy.

If Boston is ready to sell, the Mets should keep it simple. Go after the exact matches who can help. This means making an offer for Willson Contreras without or one of the outfielders directly. For an infielder, look for someone actually producing. Don’t try to be the hero by believing your system will work better than whatever the heck it is they’ve attempted to accomplish in Boston.

In defense of this trade idea

The one good possibility about adding Story is it would put additional pressure on David Stearns to admit defeat in one of his bolder trades of the winter. If Story played well in a Mets uniform, it puts Marcus Semien on notice. That’s a big if. Even Semien has outhit Story this year. Either way, one of them would end up brushed aside by season's end.

Alternatively, if the Red Sox are willing to take on Sean Manaea and his contract, maybe we can talk. His deal is only $5 million less than Story with the 2028 buyout. A one-for-one deal doesn't work, but perhaps there's some negotiating to do and a change of scenery could aid both players. If Manaea has lasted this long on the Mets roster without his contract getting eaten, it might take something like a deal for Story to make it happen.

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