4 ways the Mets can prove they're anywhere near becoming the East Coast Dodgers

2) The Mets need to be unafraid to unload minor league talent at the trade deadline

A major difference between the Mets and Dodgers is how they’ve behaved at recent trade deadlines. The Dodgers have frequently been buyers. The Mets have done so in 2021 and 2022 which gives us enough examples of how differently the two approached it.

Caution has been top of mind for the Mets. Rich Hill and Javier Baez weren’t nearly enough for them in 2021 to even finish at .500. The following year when they were a much better ball club, the Mets appeared even more timid. The 101 ball club didn’t make a single positive impactful trade deadline maneuver despite having some resources to get it done.

Meanwhile, the Dodgers unloaded a package in 2021 to rent Scherzer for a few months and Trea Turner for a year and a half. Due to them having one of the best farm systems in baseball on a regular basis, they didn’t have to hug any of their minor leaguers too tightly.

This has been an acceptable frustration with the Mets. They don’t trade the prospects, but they also hesitate to call any of them up. And when some of them do reach the majors, playing time is scarce.

To become the Dodgers East, the Mets need to figure out when it’s appropriate to strike a blockbuster trade.