NY Mets should make a trade with the Orioles, just not for the obvious target

The New York Mets and Baltimore Orioles seemed to be going in two different directions. The Mets are currently at the top of the National League East and seem destined to go on another playoff run. While the Orioles are at the bottom of the American League East and have earned the title as the most disappointing team of the 2025 season.

With these two teams going in opposite directions, they match up perfectly as trading partners at the deadline. Now, many assume a trade between these two teams would involve the Orioles sending center fielder Cedric Mullins to the Mets. Center field has been one of the biggest holes on the Mets' lineups since Jose Siri fractured his left tibia.

However, while Mullins would help the Mets, there is a better trade target on the Orioles. That being lefty reliever Keegan Akin. He's a perfect fit for this Mets roster and can be one of the most important players down the stretch.

Why the Mets should trade for Keegan Akin

Akin has been one of the lone bright spots on this Orioles roster. He's currently in the middle of the season of his career. Through 26 innings, he has an ERA of 3.12 with 28 strikeouts to 14 walks, a 1.346 WHIP, and an ERA+ of 122. These numbers are much better than his career stats. Over his six years in the bigs, he has an ERA of 4.57 over 330 and 2/3 innings with 346 strikeouts to 110 walks, a 1.291 WHIP, and an ERA+ of 90.

A significant reason for Akin's career year has been the effectiveness of his changeup. According to Baseball Savant, his changeup ranks in the 95th percentile for Offspeed Run Value. He's thrown that pitch 76 times this season and has not allowed a hit off of it. It also has produced a whiff percentage of 27.9% and has a putaway percentage of 24.2%.

Akin would fill the role as the lefty reliever, one of the most significant needs the Mets have right now. Coming into the season, the plan was to rely on AJ Minter and Danny Young as the lefties out of the pen. However, with both of them suffering season-ending injuries, it's something they need to address. The Mets have had to use castoffs from other teams to try to fill that void. That might work in the regular season, but during the pennant chase and postseason, they need an established big league arm, a role Akin fills.

He does not just help the Mets this season, but also next season. With him being under control for one more season, he can be a fixture of the Mets' bullpen in 2026. Even though the focus is on this season, the Mets have had an eye towards the future by bringing in relievers who could come out of the pen next season. The only issue this creates is that it will cost the Mets more than a typical rental reliever to get him.

While everyone might be focus on Mullins to the Mets trade, the smart move would be to acquire Akin.