Improving 2 NY Mets trade ideas with the Mariners

2 of 3

Over at Sodo Mojo, they took the idea of the New York Mets trading Jeff McNeil to the Seattle Mariners and ran with a pair of trade ideas. The Mariners are reportedly looking to add a high-contact bat this offseason. A wide open spot at second base should make McNeil a priority of theirs.

The problem they run into is McNeil is a core member of a Mets team still looking to compete and build. McNeil signed a team-friendly extension last offseason. New York is only trading him if they feel like they’re winning a deal or at least addressing needs.

Unfortunately, neither of the trade proposals from Sodo Mojo are worthy of even considering. Let’s see if we can improve either one and come to a middle ground.

What would be a fair Mets and Mariners trade?

The first trade just doesn’t seem to make much sense for the Mets at all.

McNeil trade one

Since most of us aren’t familiar with Kristian Cardozo, the skinny on him is that he’s not a top 30 prospect and he had two straight bad years pitching in the lower minor leagues. His inclusion in this deal is irrelevant.

Gonzales, meanwhile, does feel like a Mets target if only because he fits in as a salary dump sort of player for Seattle. He has a 4.08 ERA in 852.1 innings with the Mariners dating back to mid-2017. There is $12.25 million owed to him next year which Seattle would definitely love to get out from under. He missed all but 10 starts last year and had an ERA over 5.00. He has become irrelevant to them.

McNeil’s contract includes a salary of $10.25 million next year and raises to $15.75 million for two more seasons and a team option for the same in 2027. It’s much more money than the Mariners would be paying to Gonzales.

The problem with this trade is it’s actually more of a salary dump for the Mets. I’m not sure why they would actually want Gonzales for a year and lose McNeil in the process. The Mets have nothing to gain from this trade.

Maybe the other deal is easier to improve.

A second trade proposed between the Mets and Mariners

This one cuts out a lot more from the Mets but it actually rewards them with something.

McNeil trade two

I’d still want David Stearns immediately fired and banned from Citi Field and all Citi Bank properties if he made this deal. In fact, let’s ban him from cities altogether. He can live in the woods.

Somehow, though, this trade is lightyears better. Bryan Woo is absolutely a target the Mets should be after. Prelander Berrora, a legitimate pitching prospect, would look nice in the farm system, too.

The problem here is the Mets are including Jett Williams. He’ll be a top three prospect for the team next year at the absolute worst. There’s a good chance he’s number two or even number one. There is absolutely no reason they should be trading him anywhere. If they’re dealing away McNeil, there is no need to subtract any major pieces from the farm system.

Neither of these trades are all that attractive for Mets fans. The inclusion of McNeil at all is already difficult to accept. The mission of the trade is to land a young arm. Let’s see if we can combine the two trades and find something more reasonable for both sides.

Finding some middle ground for Mets and Mariners fans

Here it goes. We need to give the Mariners the contact bat they desire and add some young pitching to the Mets roster.

McNeil trade three

Boom! What do we think?

The Mariners not only get a major league contact bat, they receive a minor league one, too in Nick Morabito. He hit .306 on the farm last season while showing off some excellent speed. Seattle also receives some relief in payroll as they dump Gonzales onto the Mets. His contract, after all, is higher than McNeil’s for 2024.

The Mets get their young pitching with Woo and Berroa. The addition of Gonzales may seem pointless. He’d be an option to move to the bullpen or give the Chris Flexen treatment to. His inclusion is more about helping the Mariners clear some salary and a roster spot.

A big debate for Mets fans will be whether or not these two young arms are worth getting at the cost of McNeil. Woo was never a top Mariners prospect but catapulted his way to the major leagues last year on performance. The years of control are what make Woo appealing and maybe worthy of adding at such a high cost.

Mets fans may see this trade and think the team needs to land a more proven arm. Meanwhile, the Mariners fans out west might be thinking about how little they care about ownership saving money.

To get it on the record, if someone like Jett Williams is a must for those M’s fans, consider Logan Gilbert or George Kirby gone.

manual

Home / New York Mets News