It’s trading season and I don’t mean your old car, collectibles, or significant other; three things you might want to swap and not particularly in that order. The MLB Winter Meetings take place next week and more than the past two offseasons, a trade feels inevitable for the New York Mets. They need to both add and subtract.
Looking back at all of the major league trades made by David Stearns, excluding ones where the players have yet to play like the Brandon Nimmo-Marcus Semien deal or totally significant trades like a random reliever for cash, I thought it might be appropriate to re-grade them all to see exactly how he has done and if there’s a pattern to follow.
The most excellente David Stearns trades for the Mets
Luis Torrens - A+, 2024
Cash for a player of any ability, the fact that Luis Torrens has developed into an exceptional fielder and Gold Glove finalist this past year makes this nothing but a success. The Mets didn’t give up a single living, breathing person for him, just a whole bunch of dead presidents. Bonus points for him coming over from the New York Yankees.
Phil Maton - A, 2024
This one was pretty good and if not for the way things ended in 2024 and into the postseason with Phil Maton fading, we could’ve added the plus sign after. Still, picking up Maton as a salary dump from the Tampa Bay Rays was exceptional.
Adrian Houser and Tyrone Taylor - A-, 2023-2024 offseason
The first trade of any significance for Stearns came in December of 2023 when Adrian Houser and Tyrone Taylor came to the Mets for Coleman Crow. Houser went bust. Taylor went boom then tapered off with the added playing time. Crow has struggled to stay healthy, but is now on the Milwaukee Brewers’ 40-man roster. It’s possible this deserves a re-grade soon. Right now, it’s a hardy A- because the advantage remains with the Mets.
Jesse Winker - B+, 2024
Remember, we’re grading the trade and not the free agent signing. Jesse Winker for Tyler Stuart hasn’t worked out so well for the Washington Nationals. Stuart has struggled to stay healthy since leaving the Mets. Winker had an exceptional August, absent September, and notable October in 2024. A strong B+ is the best way to grade that deal.
Huascar Brazoban - B+, 2024
Huascar Brazoban could get a sponsorship at Six Flags with the way he performs. A bad 2024 but magnificent start in 2025 has earned this trade a B+. In exchange for just Wilfredo Lara, a guy who hit under .200 in the low minor leagues last year, this feels like a steal for the Mets.
