Tarik Skubal trade sets dark tone for what NY Mets get for Clay Holmes, Freddy Peralta

More names must be coming out…it can’t just be that. While we all knew it was going to take a Tarik Skubal trade for the New York Mets to move their starting pitchers, we all figured the hold up was over significantly more. Zyhir Hope, River Ryan, and Brady Smith were it. All good prospects, Ryan less so because of his age, the Los Angeles Dodgers didn’t lose a drop of sweat giving up what they did for Skubal.

Meanwhile, the Mets are trying to get the most possible for Clay Holmes and Freddy Peralta. With Skubal off the board, suitors may need to up their offers before getting left with nothing. However, with such a low-ball return for Skubal, increasing their offers still might not feel satisfying.

The idea of the Mets asking teams for a top 100 prospect in a Peralta trade seems infeasible. Two, only one who actually belonged, was sacrificed for Skubal. As arbitrary as top 100 prospect lists can be, we can probably eliminate every single guy on any of those lists as a possibility in a trade for either starting pitcher on the block.

The Dodgers won the Tarik Skubal sweepstakes and managed to maybe hurt the Mets, too

Just because the Mets won’t get a top 100 prospect for either starting pitcher doesn’t mean they can’t get a rewarding addition. The perception of a top 100 prospect versus the unknown one spot away from making it doesn’t win or lose you a trade. Tampa Bay Rays infield prospect Cooper Flemming is currently listed at 100 by MLB Pipeline. Psychologically, it feels better snagging him in a trade with that placement than if he was secretly 101 and one prospect’s graduation away from making it.

The 25th-ranked prospect in the sport was included for Skubal. Hope is a 21-year-old having a big year in Double-A. The Detroit Tigers get some satisfaction.

Only a few years ago, back in 2022, the Mets had the 27th ranked prospect in the sport. It’s Brett Baty. Prospects ranked at all levels flame out. MJ Melendez was on the same list, ranked 51st in the sport. Ronny Mauricio was 78th. Right before him at 77th was Vidal Brujan.

When it comes to mammoth trades like this, a mix of quality and quantity seems to be the only way for the seller to win in the eyes of public opinion. The Dodgers got some quality with all of the responsibility falling on Hope’s shoulders. Ryan isn’t pitching well in Triple-A and is closer to 30 than he is 20. Smith has not pitched well this year and as a third-round draft pick already 21-years-old and not ranked highly in the system, he’s likely to fade within a year if he doesn’t have a strong 2027.

For the Mets’ sake, let’s hope someone is in panic mode and does something really silly before August 3 at 6pm EST.

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