NY Mets trade target Mitch Keller devalued by radio host who gets a big detail wrong

The hot New York Mets rumor from the weekend was the team’s interest in Pittsburgh Pirates hurler Mitch Keller. Pittsburgh radio host Andrew Fillipponi took to social media to provide some details on the rumor first shared by Noah Hiles.

In Fillipponi’s assessment, Pirates fans shouldn’t “expect a ton back for Keller because of $ owed in his deal.” Assumptive because the years of control at a reasonable price for Keller, the bigger issue with his tweet is not even knowing Mauricio’s position, calling him a “switch hitter who can play SS and OF.”

We can squash this exact Mets trade immediately because of the little details

Hiles already chimed in to say this particular trade package wasn’t anything he reported. That doesn’t mean it’s completely fabricated, but it sure seems that the person first reporting the rumor would know better than anyone else.

Plus, with Mauricio being mentioned as someone who can play shortstop and the outfield, all credibility gets tossed off the Roberto Clemente Bridge. Mauricio has never played the outfield. For interested Pirates fans who stumbled over here, he plays a lot of second base and third base because of Francisco Lindor’s presence at shortstop.

Mets fans were quick to strike out the deal without knowing exactly what the full trade package would involve. The presentation makes it seem as if Mauricio would be by far the most important young player in the transaction. If so, how can the Mets say no?

A pitcher of Keller’s caliber is far more valuable than a middle infielder who, while gifted with a ceiling, is expendable. Three years of Keller at a reasonable price versus trying to figure out where a .227 hitter belongs on your MLB roster? It’s not something to pass on so easily.

Mets fans have been waiting for Mauricio to break out in a big way for several years. Signed by the team 8 years ago in July 2017, it’s understandable why some remain committed to seeing it through with him.

Don’t grow too attached to him, though. With as many young position players as they have, someone has to be expelled. A pitcher like Keller is someone to leap at, especially considering how much someone like Frankie Montas costs in free agency.