An emerging NY Mets trade candidate possibly more useful somewhere else

A constant throughout the 2024 New York Mets season was how an abundance of players seemed to outperform expectations. We don't need to lustfully rehash everyone. Many have left. A few remain.

One of those to take a bigger leap forward than anticipated was Jose Butto. He was essentially their starter turned reliever who got them more than 3 outs each time he played. Butto did have his difficulty pitching regularly, forcing the Mets to basically just use him as much as they could whenever he did get into a game with the knowledge he'd be unavailable the next day. Stretched out as a starter early in the season, the routine of resting for four days wasn’t something they could simply switch off.

The magic of Butto's 2024 seems to have worn off. He's feeling like just another reliever these days. Perhaps a change in usage, which the Mets haven't hinted at, can help turn Butto into a useful trade chip to better them in another area.

Jose Butto is an emerging Mets trade chip more valuable to another team

A weaker link in the bullpen chain, his lack of minor league options is hurtful for the justification of keeping him around. The Mets aren't a team built with an abundance of optional relievers. Huascar Brazoban, Reed Garrett, and Max Kranick have options. Who wants to send them down?

Butto is more second-tier than first this season. He'd be a good choice for Carlos Mendoza to get the team through the middle innings in a game where they trail. As he has proven a little too often this season, Butto can't be trusted to consistently get the job done. Walks haven’t even been the primary concern. Through 33 innings, Butto has gone 2-1 with a 3.27 ERA. It’s surface-acceptable. A 3.80 FIP, 1.45 WHIP, 4.6 walks per 9, and 7.6 strikeouts per 9 all have fans wondering when the bottom will completely drop out.

His experience as a starting pitcher should intrigue teams at the trade deadline. The Mets indicated before the start of the season they wouldn't move Butto back into the rotation, opting to capitalize on last year's success as a reliever. The need for him to be a starter isn't really there. Where does this leave him other than on the roster fringes?

Butto could be someone a contending team looks at to bring them starting pitching depth at the trade deadline. In those final two months, starting pitching depth is tested. Whether as a starter or a swingman who receives the occasional spot start, Butto is a low-salaried player with innings to offer.

On the Mets side of things, trading Butto opens a spot in the bullpen better utilized on either a better relief pitcher or a spot they can use on optional relievers. The club's six-man rotation need requires they have roster flexibility for the purpose of circumnavigating constant employment of those six starters. If Butto is just going to be another guy, exploring a trade could be beneficial if another team views him as highly as we did in 2024.