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

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.