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3 Mets trade options involving a high-priced player making over $20 million in 2024

It might not cost a whole lot in terms of prospects because of the money involved.

By Tim Boyle |
Boston Red Sox v Baltimore Orioles
Boston Red Sox v Baltimore Orioles / Brandon Sloter/GettyImages
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Steve Cohen’s seemingly endless wealth puts the New York Mets in a position where they can buy or sell any player. Although they have yet to take on the brunt of a salary dump deal, the possibility of it each offseason is likely.

Most teams in baseball have at least one contract on the books they feel is a bit too burdensome on the payroll. Even if the player is meeting the expectations of the deal, getting out from under the contract might be a mission either to save some money or to open up the door for other possibilities.

Because of Cohen’s reputation and powerful wallet, it’s these three high-priced trade candidates we should expect making over $20 million in 2024 to enter the rumor mill.

1) Chris Sale

The possibility of a Mets trade for Chris Sale was already floated out there by Connor & Joe of the Mets Pod.

It’s not so outrageous. Prior to 2023, there were thoughts of other teams looking at Sale as a possible trade addition. Sale did manage to make 20 starts last year and while it came with just a 6-5 record and 4.30 ERA, he remains an effective strikeout pitcher and his 11.1 strikeouts per 9 is the best in MLB history.

Sale hasn’t been his usual brilliant self for his entire 30s. He struggled in 2019 with the Boston Red Sox, missed all of 2020, and combined to make only 11 starts from 2021-2022 but did look good. Finally a little healthier in 2023, it was more of a mixed review from him. Should the Mets make him a target if the Red Sox eat a large portion of the money and/or they are able to acquire a prospect in what is essentially a salary dump?

I’d stay away simply because he hasn’t shown that he is anything more than a broken down ace. Maybe the taste of 2023 hasn’t rubbed off yet where we saw a much lesser version of Max Scherzer on the mound and a good yet not so durable Justin Verlander.

A trade for Sale only works if the Mets do get some weapons for their farm system. It would be a bad move on Boston’s part, though. You’ve eaten enough money. Wait one more year. Tough out the pain a little longer.

2) Tyler Glasnow

A much more palatable high-priced player for the Mets is Tyler Glasnow. His contract is what has people already speculating about some offseason movement. His extension signed with the Tampa Bay Rays jumps from $5.35 million in 2023 up to $25 million in 2024.

Glasnow has had a strange career. While Sale at least stayed healthy for much of his 20s, Glasnow has not. This past season was only his second to log over 100 innings. His first came in 2018 when he pitched exclusively in relief for the Pittsburgh Pirates then added 11 starts as a member of the Rays.

He has had some fantastic runs—posting a 1.78 ERA in 12 starts back in 2019, a 2.66 ERA performance in 14 in 2021, and this most recent season going 10-7 with a 3.53 ERA in 21 appearances as a starter. His numbers with the Rays included a 27-16 record and 3.20 ERA plus some of the best stuff in the game. His 12.2 strikeouts per 9 is even better than Sale’s MLB history-leading total. The big knock against him is the inability to stay on the field.

Do the Mets trade for a guy making $25 million who has such a consistent track record of getting hurt? It would probably mean an extension is asking for trouble. Glasnow is mercenary worthy in that if you’re planning to win a championship in 2024 you might do it. Plus, any deal involving him should be viewed almost as a salary dump with lesser players sent back to Tampa Bay in return.

Where the Red Sox should definitely look to move on from Sale, the Rays should be a little more tempted to pay Glasnow the money. There might not be a more unique trade candidate out there than Glasnow. He’s good and on a team that needs him and yet he never stays healthy and is very expensive.

3) Yoan Moncada

It’s not quite ironic but neither were a lot of the things Alanis Morissette sang about. Yoan Moncada made his way to the Chicago White Sox in the 2016 trade with the Red Sox for Sale. He somehow managed to bump his salary up to an outrageous amount without accomplishing much outside of the 2019 season. Often hurt himself, Moncada is going to earn $24.8 million in 2024 with a team option in 2025 for another $25 million. Undoubtedly, the $5 million buyout will get used by whoever employs him.

Moncada has been healthier than Glasnow in his career yet far more irrelevant at times. After hitting .315 in 2019 with several other career highs, Moncada has never reached 15 home runs again in a year. His batting averages have ranged from .212 to .263.

Something Moncada has done well is field the position. This is one of the reasons why the Mets could be a destination. Uncertainty about Brett Baty at third base and a whole lot of doubt about Mark Vientos being able to play the position should have the Mets considering all options. Moncada, who turns 29 in the spring, is someone who would be an expensive improvement in terms of salary but not so much in what the Mets would have to give up for him.

The obvious trouble here is cutting a deal between the Mets and White Sox when owner Jerry Reinsdorf is anti-Steve Cohen. If the Mets were able to trade with the Los Angeles Angels last year with Arte Moreno in the owner’s chair, it shouldn’t be too big of an obstacle. After all, this trade is saving Reinsdorf money.

Sale is an easy pass while Glasnow is tempting for the right price. Moncada is very temporary. It definitely feels more like a trade deadline move to make if he’s playing well and the Mets want an upgrade.

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