A NY Mets-LA Angels trade idea to swap Mark Vientos for pitching help

The New York Mets are reportedly willing to move one of their infielders as we approach the trade deadline. One player that could be on the move is Mark Vientos. With first base covered by Pete Alonso, and both Ronny Mauricio and Brett Baty outperforming Vientos this season at third base, the Mets can opt to part ways with the 2024 breakout slugger.

The Mets need relief pitching, and according to ESPN’s Kiley McDaniel and Jeff Passan, one controllable left-hander that could be on the move this month is Los Angeles Angels left-hander Reid Detmers, with the Mets as a potential trade partner. The Mets and Angels should converge on a trade that would send Vientos to the Angels and Detmers to the Mets, especially since the Angels are in town.

Vientos looked like a long-term slugger for the Mets in 2024 after he hit .266/.322/.516 with a .356 wOBA and a 133 wRC+. The third baseman slugged 27 home runs in only 454 plate appearances with an isolated slugging percentage of .249. There were definitely red flags, given Vientos’ poor 27.7% K% and 34.4% whiff rate, along with a 7.3% walk rate and 32.3% chase rate, but he was still above the 80th percentile of xSLG%, in the 92nd percentile of barrel rate.

So far, 2025 has been a dismal year for Vientos. In 269 trips to the plate, he is slashing just .222/.275/.351 with a .275 wOBA and 78 wRC+. While Vientos has reduced his K% to 24.9%, his walk rate has also decreased to 6.3%. His once elite barrel rate has fallen by nearly half to just 7%. That has led to a massive decrease in home run output, as Vientos has hit six long balls all season.

Unfortunately, Vientos has to hit to provide value. His defense at the hot corner isn’t good. Over the last two seasons, Vientos has -14 defensive runs saved and outs above average. That is the fewest DRS or OAA by any third baseman since the start of 2024. But Vientos is still only 25 (turns 26 in December), and a year removed from a very promising season. He is still an entire season away from arbitration, as he won’t become arb-eligible until the 2026-2027 offseason.

The NY Mets should trade Mark Vientos for this left-handed pitcher from the LA Angels.

Meanwhile, the Mets would get former first-round pick Reid Detmers. Detmers once looked like a promising starting pitcher for the Angels, pitching to a 4.15 ERA, 3.97 FIP, and 1.29 WHIP over 277.2 innings between 2022 and 2023. He struck out 24.5% of opponents, with a 9% walk rate, and 1.04 HR/9.

However, Detmers struggled significantly in 2024, pitching only 87.1 innings and working to the tune of a 6.70 ERA, 4.72 FIP, and 1.56 WHIP. He saw an uptick in strikeouts to 27.9%, but his walk rate also crept up to 9.7%. The most worrying aspect of his game was the 1.85 HR/9 ratio. Detmers had just a 6.2% barrel rate in 2023, which was in the 78th percentile, but fell to the 6th percentile in 2024 at 10.7%.

That poor 2024 led to Detmers getting demoted to the bullpen this season, where he has rebounded. His 4.17 ERA may not look great, but Detmers is striking out 28.5% of opponents with a 9.8% walk rate. Home runs have become much less of an issue, with a 0.79 HR/9 and a 7.7% barrel rate. Detmers has a 3.20 FIP, 3.17 xFIP, 3.24 xERA, and 3.12 SIERA, showing there are likely better things ahead for Detmers. Another positive is that he also controlled through the 2028 season and will go through arbitration for the first time this offseason.

The Mets could use Detmers right now, given that they need a left-handed bullpen arm. Since A.J. Minter and Danny Young suffered season-ending injuries in April, the Mets have been coasting by with patchwork when it comes to lefty relievers. However, another reason the Mets might be interested is if they believe they can convert Detmers back into a starting pitcher. The Mets have been able to convert Clay Holmes from an All-Star closer into a solid starting pitcher this season, so the precedent is there if the Mets want to attempt this again next season.

The Angels also need a third baseman. Luis Rengifo, Yoan Moncada, and Kevin Newman have been the Angels’ go-to answers at the hot corner, but all three are free agents after the end of this season. Given the Angels’ current situation, all three could be dealt for prospects at the deadline as well. They have an opportunity to give Vientos regular playing time without much pressure.

Both the Mets and Angels would stand to benefit from a swap like this. The Mets get a lefty reliever, who could potentially move back into the starting rotation. The Angels get a third baseman who slugged nearly 30 home runs in less than 500 plate appearances just a year ago, and have a need at the hot corner. With the Angels in town, the deadline approaching, and the Mets willing to move some of their infield depth, they should make this deal happen.