Ranking the 4 most critical NY Mets trade deadline needs by severity

2. Third base is the Mets' second biggest issue that must be addressed at the trade deadline

The Mets have gotten putrid production out of the hot corner this season. On the year, New York's third basemen have combined for a .659 OPS, which ranks 21st in the majors. By fWAR, they rank 20th with a 0.6 mark.

The two culprits most responsible have been former top prospects Mark Vientos and Brett Baty. Vientos has never been known for his glove, but after what appeared to be a breakout in 2024 with a 27-homer, .837 OPS campaign, his bat has gone silent, posting a .218/.282/.354 line and -0.4 fWAR.

Baty, on the other hand, has done what he's normally done throughout his career, which is show brief flashes of the talent that made him such an intriguing prospect, yet ultimately fall short. He's slashing .224/.275/.410 and has posted 0.8 fWAR, mostly on the strength of his defense.

Ronny Mauricio is another option the Mets have to run out at third, but after returning from a torn ACL and tearing it up at Triple-A Syracuse to the tune of a .323/.384/.508 line, he's slashed just .219/.296/.370 over 22 big league games.

The Mets' offense has at times struggled as a result, and the team ranks exactly middle of the pack in runs scored through July 5, coming in at 15th in the majors with 386. Third base has been the biggest factor holding the lineup back, and is also a position where the Mets might be able to find an impact bat, though it won't be easy.

The competition to land one of the top third basemen on the market will be fierce, with contenders like the crosstown Yankees and the Detroit Tigers also having this position atop their deadline shopping lists. The pool isn't exactly deep either.

There's been some smoke that the Red Sox could move Alex Bregman at the trade deadline, though it's just as likely they try to extend him at this point. The next couple of weeks will be telling to see which way they lean. Regardless, Bregman, with the prospect capital Boston will ask for, and his complicated contract situation, is a pipe dream.

The real prize might be Arizona's Eugenio Suarez. The Venezuelan-born slugger has already clubbed 28 homers this year through 86 games and has been a picture of durability throughout his career. The Diamondbacks haven't come out yet as sellers, currently sitting 3.5 games out of the final Wild Card spot, but losing their prized offseason acquisition Corbin Burnes for the season should have them taking a hard look at selling veterans on expiring deals like Suarez, especially with an in-house replacement in top prospect Jordan Lawlar.

Outside of Suarez, the drop-off is pretty steep. Colorado's Ryan McMahon is stellar with the glove, but his 80 wRC+ leaves a lot to be desired. He does have four consecutive 20-plus home run seasons under his belt, but his career line of .216/.302/.361 away from the gravity-defying Coors Field leaves a lot to be desired.

If the Los Angeles Angels decide they can't get over the .500 hump and want to sell, Yoan Moncada could be an intriguing though risky fit. The former No. 1 prospect in all of baseball has hit .237/.336/.505 yet has been limited to just 30 games due to a variety of injuries. That's unfortunately nothing new for him as he managed just 12 games last season, and was limited to 92 and 104 in 2023 and 2022, respectively.

An out-of-the-box solution could be the Minnesota Twins' Willi Castro. A Jeff McNeil-like utility man, Castro has played second, short, third, and all three outfield positions this season, while slashing a very solid .274/.362/.435 in his walk year. It should be noted, though, that his defense might be an issue, with him only having logged 12 games at the hot corner this season and just 94 in his career.

The need here is pretty great, but with Suarez as likely the only premium option, a bidding war will ensue, driving up the cost and potentially forcing David Stearns to pivot to much less appealing options.