If the New York Mets and Philadelphia Phillies make a trade this summer and it involves a guy who’ll be under their control for next year, David Stearns would be crossing a line. Because the Mets can compete next season, they should be careful about trading within the division when it can haunt them in 2027.
With this in mind, it’s going to cost the Phillies more than other teams to acquire Luke Weaver. The star Mets reliever is a rumored target of the Phillies, largely as a result of losing Brad Keller for the season. The two were free agent peers. The Mets got the best of it with the results and health.
Just because it crosses a line doesn’t mean the Mets should completely refuse a deal with the Phillies. And if they do make a trade, it will need to include this Phillies prospect.
Francisco Renteria is the Phillies prospect the Mets must demand in any Luke Weaver trade
Renteria, who doesn’t appear to have any affiliation with Edgar Renteria, is the 89th ranked prospect in MLB. The 17-year-old is slashing .353/.447/.571 with 4 home runs and 17 stolen bases in 18 tries.
The young center fielder is projected to reach the majors in 2031, timing out as a Mets trade win possibly long after Stearns has left and Weaver has retired. The third best Phillies prospect in their system according to MLB Pipeline, it’s a swing for the fences type of move.
The other two Phillies prospects in the top 100 are shortstop Aidan Miller and pitcher Gage Wood. Far closer to major league ready in roles the Phillies could afford to upgrade to some extent, they seem like a larger overpay for Weaver unlike Renteria whose success, while awesome, is coming in the Dominican Summer League.
Early July Mets rumors indicated the team will target the best possible players while ignoring their own needs. The idea is to possibly flip added players in future trades. It can also make ones currently in their possession more expendable.
There is no need for the Mets to sell Weaver, especially to a division rival, for anything short of a satisfactory return. Renteria headlining a Weaver trade starts the negotiations. One or two lesser prospects finishes them.
