5 way too early Mets trade deadline predictions

The 2022 MLB trade deadline will take place on August 2. That’s just about a month away. In the upcoming weeks, the New York Mets will be active in trying to find whatever pieces they can to improve their roster.

Expected buyers who will be as aggressive as anyone, the club has some obvious needs but will they meet them all?

These are five early predictions for what we should expect out of Billy Eppler at this year’s trade deadline.

1) NY Mets trade deadline prediction: A deal for a starting pitcher with options

Starting pitching is like potato chips; you can never have enough. The Mets reached the bottom of the bag early on this season because of all of the injuries. Assuming Jacob deGrom and Max Scherzer are healthy for the rest of the season would be a mistake. Remove either of them from the equation for the playoffs and the team feels far less like a World Series contender and more like one of those clubs we forget in a few years ever made the postseason.

The Mets haven’t gotten quite enough out of their other starters this season. Chris Bassitt and Carlos Carrasco have fallen on some hard times. Taijuan Walker has a whole second half where he’ll need to prove sustainability.

There is an obvious desire to bolster the starting rotation further but with a caveat—it should be for a guy with minor league options. The same way the Mets acquired Trevor Williams last year and sent him straight to Triple-A should be a plan for them even if the pitcher they do acquire is of great talent than Williams. Having that kind of roster flexibility is important. The Mets don’t have a whole lot of players with minor league options so unless they plan to DFA a couple of guys, having the wiggle room to send someone to the minors, even temporarily, is important.

Someone like Tyler Mahle, who has been good in the past, might be a player to target. If some of the starters continue to struggle on the mound or injuries, Luis Castillo would be preferred.

3) NY Mets trade deadline prediction: A lefty bat to pair with J.D. Davis at DH

In addition to a left-handed arm, the Mets could really use a left-handed bat. I’m predicting they find one. Maybe it’s simply a switch-hitter who can be paired with J.D. Davis for significant action as a DH.

The Mets have very little left-handed power on the roster. Sure, Francisco Lindor occasionally drives one from that side of the plate. Others, like Brandon Nimmo, aren’t completely void of power either. But expecting them to go yard often is setting yourself up for disappointment.

I don’t think the Mets end up getting any of the big name position player trade targets. Frankly, they don’t need that kind of offensive firepower added to the roster. They benefit more from plugging multiple holes with a few squirts of caulk than calling in a contractor to fix the whole wall.

A few names to consider could be anyone from a salary dump deal involving Charlie Blackmon to someone with a little more outfield readiness like Tyler Naquin. The Mets shouldn’t be in the market for a DH-exclusive player. That’s far too limiting.

And with Mark Vientos in line for a possible promotion later this year if he can continue to hit for power, they should look only at players that can hit from the left side. They have enough right-handed options. Limit the market and find a lefty option. They also don't have to keep Davis on the big league roster. Unless he starts to hit, maybe the Mets consider Vientos or Francisco Alvarez as the right-handed option to pair with a lefty.

4) NY Mets trade deadline prediction: No major prospects are dealt

Who will the Mets give up at the trade deadline? My prediction is they hold on tightly to all of their major prospects. They will, instead, go the route of searching for the best fits rather than the biggest names.

All of the players mentioned already could be acquired without giving up any of their “big six.” This list includes Francisco Alvarez, Brett Baty, Ronny Mauricio, Matt Allan, Mark Vientos, and Alex Ramirez. Those are the six the Mets cannot afford to lose right now although there is definitely an argument to make for them to shop Mauricio. While I do agree he’ll get traded at some point, there really isn’t the perfect player for them to trade him away for this summer.

The rest of the farm system can be up for grabs. As high as some people are on Dominic Hamel and Calvin Ziegler, they are not untouchable. Nor is anyone else in the minor leagues whether they are playing well or not.

The farm system isn’t all that great in terms of trades but that shouldn’t stop New York from acquiring some solid pieces. Shopping in the rental section and looking at possible salary dump options can get them the pieces they need without depleting the farm system.

5) NY Mets trade deadline prediction: The end for recognizable players who have been here all year

There will be more than a few players who have been with the Mets for most of the year who will see their time with the organization come to an end by the end of the trade deadline. A few names have already been mentioned. Joely Rodriguez and Chasen Shreve are certainly on the bubble. Even someone like folk hero Tommy Hunter may not find himself digging his heels in with a roster spot by the trade deadline’s conclusion.

J.D. Davis might be the only position player receiving regular playing time who could get sent down. The Mets wouldn’t be wise to trade him. Even if he isn’t playing particularly well, his bat is solid enough for the bench.

Making hard baseball decisions is important for this year’s Mets team. In the past, they’ve made the mistake of forcing players into the lineup for far too long. One of the ways this team feels different is their willingness to make those changes for the betterment of the team.

If there’s one way the Mets could shock us, it’s by adding another third base option over struggling Eduardo Escobar. Their trade resources might not be best spent making such a move but maybe there is a left-handed hitting third baseman that could also share the DH duties.