Fascinating buy-low trade target entered the NY Mets rumors, what could it cost?

Is that a threat? Some shocking New York Mets rumors filled out social media feeds late this week. Along with Max Scherzer being a viable candidate to return to Citi Field in home whites, the team continues to look at Pete Alonso alternatives. Sports Illustrated’s Pat Ragazzo continued his busy week by dropping the Mets rumors of the team potentially looking to make a trade for Detroit Tigers first baseman Spencer Torkelson.

Torkelson is a fascinating buy-low trade target—which you hopefully already realized after seeing the title of this article. Yes, Mike. I am talking to you. For all of you non-Mikes out there continuing to read, just appreciate the quit shiver every actual Mike out there reading this felt for a split second. It would be somewhat similar to the one you might feel if the Mets actually did pull off this trade.

In a lot of ways, Torkelson would fit right in. He’s a once highly-coveted young player who has one really good year under his belt but some turbulent times as well. He’s somewhere between where Brett Baty and Mark Vientos are at the moment. After putting up numbers in 2023 that seem to closely mimic what Alonso did this past year, he’s an easily understood replacement option who won’t cost nearly as much financially and could be sprung away from the Tigers. Exactly what might it cost?

What could the Mets trade to the Tigers for Spencer Torkelson?

Trending toward being an Ike Davis, there’s little reason why the Mets should give up a whole lot for Torkelson. Down to his final minor league option entering this season, he’d join Baty, Ronny Mauricio, and Luisangel Acuna with this status needing to make or break. He’s a last straw guy. As agonizing as it has been to see Baty struggle so mightily, I’m not quite sure that kind of swap works. The Tigers have enough infielders anyway.

An “on the outs” type of prospect or major league player is probably a better match in any sort of trade package. From the MLB club, the team doesn’t necessarily have to keep Sean Reid-Foley or Danny Young. Neither has minor league options. Their roster spots could easily be improved upon. On the farm, struggling once highly-regarded prospects such as Dom Hamel, Kevin Parada, and maybe even a first round pick made by the Mets, Colin Houck, could be a piece sent to Detroit. 

Torkelson was the first overall draft pick in 2020 yet he never, even at the minor league level, put up the kind of numbers one would expect. Powerful, sure, the Tigers’ frustration grew to the point where he spent a significant portion of last year in Triple-A delivering his usual brand of low average, high OBP, and good power. Houck has done even less at the lower minor leagues.

One possibility to consider is the trade grows bigger than just Torkelson. The Tigers had a good bullpen last year. The Mets—we won’t say anything about them. You’re not supposed to say anything if you have nothing kind to say.

Torkelson plus a bullpen arm would up the cost. Maybe then one of the surplus of Mets infielders becomes expendable. After all, any of them who fail to make their mark in 2025 will be on the DFA bubble at season’s end.