3 NY Mets players to consider trading even if they are deadline buyers

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The New York Mets are one of those teams who feel like sellers but the expectations of the team have many of us convinced there’s a chance they buy instead. What if, as Adrian Cervantes wrote, they do a little of both?

The Mets are no strangers to buying and selling. They acquired AJ Ramos in 2017 from the Miami Marlins while subtracting from the roster. In 2019, Jason Vargas was sent to the Philadelphia Phillies only a few days after acquiring Marcus Stroman. We can even go back to 1977 and consider the Joel Youngblood addition more of a buyer’s move.

It is possible to do them both. And even if the Mets are planning to subtract payroll and bodies from their roster, these three should be under consideration to change uniforms. Consider

1) NY Mets should consider trading Omar Narvaez even if they’re buying

Omar Narvaez has become an expensive backup catcher on the Mets roster. It’s not so much his fault as much as it is the circumstances around the position. Narvaez got hurt early on in the year and his injury allowed the Mets to give Francisco Alvarez his chance to thrive behind the plate. Alvarez has been a better choice for the Mets out of the catcher spot. If it’s possible to get something of use back in return for Narvaez, they should flip him regardless of what their full trade deadline plans are.

The Mets don’t have a great need to carry Narvaez and Alvarez on the same roster unless one is going to routinely be the designated hitter. This isn’t something they’ll be capable of unless they carry a third catcher. That has its own warts.

Narvaez has a player option for next season which, at this point, looks like something he’d use. It’s hard to tell because of how little he has played thus far this season. The Mets don’t need to have Narvaez around again next season to be the backup to Alvarez. It’s not a horrible plan yet it feels like a waste if all he’s going to do is start twice a week.

2) NY Mets should consider trading Carlos Carrasco even if they’re buying

Carlos Carrasco’s trade value is iffy at best. However, a desperate team who needs a fifth starter would certainly be willing to take on the rental, especially if the Mets eat a part of the contract. Even if they don’t, the Mets should be willing to trade one of the weaker links in the rotation.

Do the Mets have enough starting pitcher talent to get through the year? It’s debatable. When Jose Quintana returns from the IL, the rotation will feel a lot more complete. It still looks imperfect. A more guaranteed upgrade in a separate deal might help improve the Mets. In fact, they should look to find a guy with control through next season to help take over for Carrasco who is practically guaranteed to leave this offseason in free agency.

This is precisely what the Mets did with trading Vargas and picking up Stroman within a few days of each other. They don’t need to get much in return for Carrasco. Instead, the goal is to acquire a better pitcher in a different deal while freeing up the roster space.

Carrasco definitely hasn’t proven himself as a reliable starter on a contending team. A move to the bullpen is always one possibility aside from a trade. For sure, no matter where the Mets are, shopping him is something worth doing.

3) NY Mets should consider trading Daniel Vogelbach even if they’re buying

Ah, yes. Trading Daniel Vogelbach. No matter what he’s doing for the Mets, I think it’s a wise choice to move on from Vogelbach. He’s just not a great fit for the roster. Even if he’s producing well enough, the Mets need to heavily consider trading him.

Vogelbach has shown more life since his return from a brief mental health break. However, it’s not enough to justify keeping him around. Vogelbach is still a patient hitter whose approach at the plate is to draw a walk. The bases get clogged. Rallies take an extra hit to result in a run.

The hard part is finding a good match for Vogelbach. After seeing how poorly the trade to New York went for the Mets last year in trying to platoon him with Darin Ruf, would any team willing to try the same thing again?

Vogelbach has a place in the big leagues. It’s just not with a Mets club in need of much more. They’d have a couple of directions they could go with the DH whenever they face a right-handed pitcher. They could go with the three catchers and let Narvaez DH or even look for a more natural fit to the roster.

The Mets have struggled to find consistency from this spot in the lineup since the universal DH became a rule in Major League Baseball. Vogelbach doesn’t feel like the answer. The Mets can sell him to another contender while buying a different piece.

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