5 offseason changes the Mets need to make if they miss the playoffs again

4) The Mets need to be more fearless with trading prospects

The biggest Mets trade of the offseason was the one that brought them Adrian Houser and Tyrone Taylor. How did that work out? One worth doing even with the way Houser struggled, the Mets remained hesitant to trade away any big time prospects again at the trade deadline. Bargain additions is all they were willing to agree to.

Building up a better farm system has been a theme for the Mets even before the infamous 2023 trade deadline that was all about going bold there. A lot of those prospects we viewed as future Citi Field stars suddenly look expendable beyond even just trades. Before we know it, guys once written in on future depth charts could get waived or stolen in the Rule 5 Draft.

Having a farm system you’re proud of doesn’t work if the prospects fizzle out or end up blocked by someone else. You gotta know when to hold ‘em, know when to trade ‘em.

Mets fans caught the prospect bug last summer and parting with any of the bigger names became non-negotiable. The 2022 trade deadline is still fresh in our heads as a moment when the team didn’t go all in to win, those who want to pull the trigger on a few more aggressive deals aren’t being foolish. Many of the prospects the Mets have already traded away haven’t turned into much other than hype.

Stay reasonable, but don’t just keep everyone around either. Not every roster solution can be solved in free agency. Sometimes a player just wants to play in a certain city or with a club they grew up rooting for.