There's only 1 reason needed for the NY Mets to stay away from Ryan McMahon

What is the New York Mets should seek at the MLB trade deadline most? After the weekend they had in Pittsburgh, an entire overhaul of the organization seems to make sense.

We know that’s not going to happen. They aren’t as in bad of shape as they looked versus the Pirates. It has been a rough few weeks for the Mets, but with solutions in the way in the form of players returning from injury and hopefully some aggressiveness at the trade deadline as well as healthy players waking up, we should be confident this team won’t fade away by July 31.

Over at CBS Sports, a ranking of the top 25 MLB players who could move at the trade deadline was put together by R.J. Anderson. Noting it didn’t include players from the Boston Red Sox and a few other teams he doesn’t view as likely sellers, the top spot on the list ended up being awarded to Ryan McMahon. The destinations named by Anderson are the Boston Red Sox, New York Yankees, and your Mets.

There are many reasons to not want Ryan McMahon on the Mets roster, but we only need one

A talented fielder and an All-Star last season, McMahon has been a significantly lighter version of the player he replaced, Nolan Arenado. Arenado coincidentally also happens to be on this same list by CBS Sports but the Mets weren’t tagged as one of the three destinations for him.

McMahon is having a predictable season. In the last three seasons he batted between .240-.246 with an OBP ranging from .322-.327. Home runs were consistent with a range of only 20-23 with even the RBI remaining consistent at 65-70.

Consistency is welcomed but not at this level. McMahon is behind in some areas, batting .220/.322/.394 this season in comparison to the .241/.324/.420 he has slashed in his career. With 12 doubles and 12 home runs through 82 games, we can fairly double the total (giving him the benefit of some warmer summer weather with a slight round-up) and find him with 24 doubles and 24 home runs—right in line where he always is. The RBI total can be overlooked at just 25 this year. Blame it on his Rockies teammates.

McMahon has minor appeal. Above all else, the reason he isn’t right for the Mets is he isn’t enough of an upgrade for the lineup. A better defender than Mark Vientos, his inability to put up eye-dropping numbers at Coors Field in his career has always made McMahon suspicious. If he’s not thriving there, what’s going to happen at Citi Field? McMahon has been better at home, slashing .265/.344/.476 versus the .216/.302/.361 on the road. Whatever the expected results would be as a member of the Mets, it’s obvious he isn’t the lineup punch they need. 

Defense is a problem for Vientos, however, the far greater issue for the Mets is deepening their starting lineup. McMahon, at what it will cost them in prospect capital, just isn’t the guy to target. He’s signed for two more seasons after the current campaign at $16 million per year. It’s an unnecessary amount to add for a player already over 30 and having a weaker than usual season.

You add at the trade deadline to make yourself better. McMahon, while an improvement in some ways, just doesn’t come close enough to making the Mets appear more World Series-worthy.