It only took the NY Mets one day to lose 2 trade opportunities, gain 1 more

The joke after the Super Bowl is always “Welcome back, baseball season” and across the league, they seemed to take it seriously. The Monday after the Super Bowl included a flurry of free agent signings plus a significant trade. The New York Mets weren’t directly involved and yet they seemed to be as affected as anyone.

Early in the day, the Boston Red Sox and Milwaukee Brewers made a trade involving multiple players. Of note for the Mets, Caleb Durbin goes from Milwaukee to Boston. It gives Boston one more infielder to play second base or third base after already signing Isiah Kiner-Falefa. Suddenly, the Red Sox feel like less of a match to trade for Brett Baty to become their next starting third baseman.

The Pittsburgh Pirates threw money at Marcell Ozuna and got him to sign a one-year deal with an option for a second. Signing him eliminates the possibility of Andrew McCutchen joining them for another ride. It has also annihilated any logic for the Pirates to continue to pursue Mark Vientos in a trade.

Those two trade opportunities are over, what about a new one with the Brewers?

We know the Mets-Brewers connection is deep with David Stearns in Queens and on a much smaller scale, Billy Eppler in an advisory role in Milwaukee. Could they strike another deal after last month’s Freddy Peralta trade?

The Mets had interest in more than Peralta and Tobias Myers. It was reported that relievers Abner Uribe and Trevor Megill were names the two clubs discussed. With Durbin gone after a strong rookie year, they suddenly feel like a match for a player like Baty.

Baty for Uribe or Megill straight up isn’t practical. Something larger with multiple players involved seems to be the only way this would work.

Milwaukee has some pitching questions both in the rotation and relief corps. Subtracting one of their two top relievers would be curious. It would likely require the Mets to surrender a reliever of their own.

Megill, who does have a minor league option remaining, is closer to free agency and earning more money than Uribe which would make him the priority target. Baty plus a MLB-ready arm wouldn’t be such a bad move if the Mets have motivation to actually sell their third baseman turned utility player/left field backup plan. Baty and Dylan Ross for Megill and an inferior reliever for depth is where my head leans. It kind of matches up well for what both teams could use.

The Mets’ plan of having Baty play left field this year continues to suggest he won’t get traded before Opening Day as they don’t really have the depth otherwise in case Carson Benge isn’t ready. We can’t exhaustively see Tyrone Taylor out there for two months to begin the year.