3 big MLB trade deadline candidates the Mets won't come close to acquiring

July is MLB trade deadline month. At least this is the case this year. It can move into August some years. In 2024, it’ll be on July 30 when the New York Mets have to make their final moves.

More buyers than sellers thanks to an amazing June, fans are closely monitoring what the Mets can do to improve their roster. There are plenty of directions to go. Unfortunately, if you’ve already ordered a custom jersey for any of these hot MLB trade deadline candidates on a Mets jersey, you will have invested poorly. The Mets will not come close to meeting the asking price for any of them.

1) Mason Miller

Easily the hottest commodity for a team in need of some bullpen help, the natural assumption is the Oakland Athletics would part ways with their increasingly talented closer, Mason Miller. The sophomore is 1-1 with a 1.96 ERA this year while averaging 15.7 strikeouts per 9.

You’re not alone if Miller is a new name to your vocabulary this season. The third-round pick of the Athletics back in 2021, he’s a 25-year-old who spent most of his 2023 season as a starter. He pitched well, but failed to win a game and didn’t put up the same kind of numbers he has in the bullpen this year.

The years of control, the talent, and all of the upside of what he can do for a very long time have him way out of reach for what the Mets will be willing to pay. He’d cost at least one of their top five prospects. For a relief pitcher on a team that already has Edwin Diaz signed for several more years, it doesn’t make much sense. The Mets could use Miller. So could a fictional bullpen with Mariano Rivera, Trevor Hoffman, and peak Eric Gagne. The Athletics have little reason to trade Miller for anything short of a haul.

As tempting as it would be to add a rising star like Miller to the bullpen, the sacrifice is far too great for a Mets team that has yet to convince us they are capable of winning a World Series.