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Grading the NY Mets trade of Huascar Brazoban to the White Sox for 2 prospects

How did the Mets do with this trade?
Aug 2, 2026; New York City, New York, USA;  New York Mets pitcher Huascar Brazoban (43) walks off the field after the top of the eighth inning against the Miami Marlins at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images
Aug 2, 2026; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets pitcher Huascar Brazoban (43) walks off the field after the top of the eighth inning against the Miami Marlins at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

David Stearns loves making New York Mets trades after hours. The latest fallen friend of ours is Huascar Brazoban. He’s going to the Chicago White Sox for a pair of prospects. Gabe Davis (ranked 18th by MLB Pipeline) and Zach Franklin are the return.

This is a very complicated trade to grade. On one hand, Brazoban is a useful piece for next year under team control for several more. The other hand is aging and reminds he will be 37 in 2027. Getting something now, while they can, carries meaning.

But is what they got good enough? That’s the question to ask most when assembling a grade for this trade.

Give this Mets-White Sox trade of Huascar Brazoban a B-

You never know with prospects and if you pretend you do, you might know even less. Davis has an 8.31 ERA this year in 10 Double-A starts. A 22-year-old 5th round pick in 2025, he’s on the downswing. Considering the way many Mets pitching prospects have taken a nosedive this season, we’d all have to be cautious about their ability to get an outsider right. This is what makes the trade complicated. His 6'9 stature has been called "intimidating" by some, but don't look too much into it. Plenty of tall guys have failed. What works well for him is that he has one obvious issue: allowing home runs. Already he has allowed 11 in 34.2 Double-A innings.

Franklin, meanwhile, is in Triple-A and putting up the kinds of numbers that’ll have him in the Mets bullpen possibly upon arrival. He has been able to go multiple innings at a time and despite the 4.57 ERA, he has walked less than 3 batters per inning and is at an insane 11.9 K/9. At 27-years-old, it’s only fitting he ends up traded for Brazoban.

One of the more complicated trade situations, the Mets would have been held responsible if they kept Brazoban and he fizzled quickly. Even if he is closing in on 40, nothing indicates he’s about to get a reminder. 

The real benefit of this trade comes in if the Mets clear out the roster spot for someone more impressive or proven. An offseason trade for a controllable relief pitcher or signing a free agent makes it easier to accept. The dream would be for Franklin to immediately assist and make us forget how impressed we were with the Brazoban for what in retrospect was a very short period of time.

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