2 trades the Mets should make today, 1 they should avoid

The trade deadline is here. The New York Mets made a couple of small moves last week, but they’ve still got some work to do in the bullpen and at DH. We’ve seen some interesting moves all around the league, and that will end tonight. 

Some potential Mets targets are off the board. Jake Diekman, Christian Vasquez, and Trey Mancini already have new homes for the remainder of the season. Don’t fret though, there are still plenty of options available for the Mets.

Let’s look at two trades the Mets should make today, and one they should avoid.

A trade the Mets should make: David Bednar

David Bednar is one of the best relievers available. He’s made 40 appearances and thrown 46.2 innings so far. He’s allowed 36 hits, 14 earned runs and walks, and struck out 63 batters. His ERA is 2.70, his FIP is 2.50, his WHIP is 1.07, and his ERA+ is 154. 

Bednar is in the 96th percentile in strikeout rate, 93rd percentile in whiff rate, 81st percentile in xwOBA and xERA, 75th percentile in xBA, and 73rd percentile in xSLG. He likes to use his fastball up in the zone and tunnel his secondary pitches off of it.

The righty has an interesting repertoire. He’s got a 4-seamer that averages 97 miles per hour, a power splitter that averages 90, and then a slow curve that sits down in the mid-70’s. Hitters have to cover a 20-mile-per-hour gap in pitches, which is a difficult thing to do.

Bednar only has a year of service time in the Majors, so he still has plenty of control left. He isn’t eligible for arbitration until 2024 and he doesn’t hit free agency until 2027. This not only makes him attractive, it makes him more expensive than some other options. It will probably take a couple of solid prospects to get him, perhaps Jose Butto (the #12 prospect in the Mets’ system) and maybe a bat like J.T. Schwartz (#19).