Insane Francisco Alvarez trade demands sets up for this offseason NY Mets trade

The New York Mets did what smart sellers are supposed to do at the trade deadline, offloading a numbers of rentals and veteran players in exchange for prospects and big-league-ready talent that should help them compete for a postseason spot again as soon as 2027. Only time will tell if those they acquired pan out, but no one can say that David Stearns didn't make an effective midsummer pivot after his rebuilt roster completely flamed out in the first half.

And yet, one of the most discussed Mets players at the trade deadline was one who ultimately didn't even get moved. Catcher Francisco Alvarez is having another fine season behind and at the plate, and the fact that the 24-year-old is under control through 2029 via arbitration only makes him more valuable.

Hence, there was no real urgency for Stearns to move him. And given their reported ask of a top prospect and more at the deadline, it's no surprise that Alvarez is still playing in Queens.

Blockbusters of this magnitude are better saved for the offseason, anyway. If the Mets revisit these talks before or after the impending lockout, then there's one obvious team who might be desperate enough to actually meet their demands.

Padres have the need and means to make a serious offseason offer to Mets for Francisco Alvarez

On the surface, the San Diego Padres may not seem like the perfect suitor for Alvarez. They already traded valuable pitching depth for Freddy Fermin last year, traded away even more valuable prospect depth at the deadline this year, and have a former top prospect in Luis Campusano in the midst of a career season at the plate. Oh, and there's also the looming presence of Ethan Salas in Triple-A to monitor, considering he's one of the best catching prospects in the sport.

Luckily for the Mets, all those problems are in the midst of solving themselves. Fermin is a solid defensive backstop, but he's hitting his way off the team this year with a .187 average and .579 OPS. Likewise, Campusano is performing brilliantly at the plate (148 wRC+), but he's poor with the glove and may eventually switch positions.

Then you've got the supposed issue of Salas and the Padres' prospect depth, but this is a two-birds, one-stone situation. The Mets don't have any notable prospects ready to replace Alvarez if he's traded -- Chris Suero is the closest, but he's still an unknown quantity behind the dish -- which is why targeting Salas in return makes so much sense.

The 20-year-old has already made it to Triple-A while posting a 115 wRC+ and .806 OPS between the top two levels of the minors this season, and he's very well-regarded as a defender. The Padres have been resistant to trading him in the past, but Alvarez, who is both young and under team control for an extended duration, would likely get A.J. Preller to change his mind.

The Mets could (and likely would) ask for more than just Salas in a trade, but there may not be a better centerpiece in an Alvarez blockbuster anywhere in the league.

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