3 NY Mets-Royals trades for Cole Ragans we'd rather do than Bleacher Report's overpay

As we all know, the New York Mets are in the hunt for multiple starting pitchers this offseason to avoid another disaster that ended up tanking their 2025 season. They're going to have to make some tricky moves and potentially give up some valuable prospects, but when it comes to specific trade targets, how much should they be willing to sacrifice?

Recently, Joel Reuter of Bleacher Report published a list of mock trades, one of which featured the Mets in a hypothetical swap that would bring Cole Ragans from the Royals to Queens (see what I did there?). Bringing Ragans to the Mets would be well-received; however, Reuter has the Mets coughing up Jonah Tong, Carson Benge, Ronny Mauricio, and Ryan Clifford.

The Mets desperately need frontline starters, but the cost may be too much to make that move. Here are three improved mock trades that take some of the weight off the Mets' shoulders while still benefiting both teams.

Jeff McNeil, Jonathan Santucci, AJ Ewing, and Ronny Mauricio to the Royals for Cole Ragans

In an offseason where a Jeff McNeil trade seems more likely than ever, this would be a perfect opportunity to pull the trigger. McNeil has been connected to the Royals in trade rumors since the start of the offseason, and there won't be many more trade opportunities for the Mets outside of the starting pitching market.

The pitcher-hitter prospect duo of Tong and Benge is replaced here by Santucci and Ewing, both of whom, with a bit more development, have the opportunity to reach the top-prospect caliber of the two former. If those three aren't enough to get it done, enter Ronny Mauricio, whose power still has the potential to make a big league impact, despite a slow career start.

Jonah Tong, Carson Benge, and Mark Vientos to the Royals for Cole Ragans and Lucas Erceg

It's hard to envision a world where the Mets include Jonah Tong and Carson Benge in a trade for anyone other than Skenes, Skubal, or Woodruff, but this could play out if Lucas Erceg comes to New York in the deal.

Erceg has quietly been one of baseball's better relievers over the past two seasons, posting a 1.11 WHIP in 182 appearances. Nothing about his game necessarily sticks out, but he's proven to be pretty consistent, a quality the Mets bullpen has previously lacked and is in dire need of. Personally, I still wouldn't want to make this trade, but for the sake of hypotheticals, this is the best it'll reasonably get if both Tong and Benge were to be dealt for Ragans.

Brandon Sproat, Mitch Voit, Luisangel Acuña, and Ryan Clifford to the Royals for Cole Ragans

If the Mets are to trade one of their MLB-ready starters, it's going to be Sproat. McLean is untouchable at this point, and as aforementioned, there aren't many situations in which the Mets will be willing to deal Tong.

Take a look at the Royals' farm system, and you'll see a lot of missing pieces. They don't have many top outfield prospects, hardly any top second base prospects, and not a single first baseman in their top 30 (they have a 27-year-old Pasquantino at first in the majors, but the point still stands). The Royals are in dire need of a prospect haul, and acquiring Voit and Clifford would expand their options.

Luisangel Acuña hasn't lived up to his offensive expectations early in his career, but he can play multiple positions and is a valuable asset on the bases. The Mets have a lot of infield options they can flip, and Acuña would make a lot of sense in a trade with a team like the Royals.