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5 blockbuster trades the Mets should consider this offseason
The hot stove is finally boiling and the New York Mets have jumped out ahead of the pack in terms of being aggressive on the market early on. There are quite a few needs that the Mets currently need on the roster on both the pitching front as well as the offensive front. If General Manager Billy Eppler does not find what he's looking for on the open market, there are going to be plenty of names dangled around the league by opposing General Managers throughout the winter.
While other teams are being aggressive as the Mets are in terms of upgrading their roster, including the division rival Philadelphia Phillies, the front office may be plotting their very next splash as the arch-rivals continue to steal headlines with their recent signings.
The New York Mets front office has a chance to steal headlines again this winter by landing a star player in a blockbuster move that nobody is anticipating
Two offseasons ago the Mets shook the baseball world up with their blockbuster trade for Francisco Lindor, and there are some intriguing names out there that could make sense for the Mets in some capacity on the trade market.
I went ahead and outlined five intriguing players that the Mets front office should target should they go the trade route at some point this winter and make some noise with a potential blockbuster deal.
1) NY Mets trade target: Bryan Reynolds
Prior to the Winter Meetings getting underway, Bryan Reynolds had informed the Pittsburgh Pirates that he wished to be traded to another ballclub, which sent baseball Twitter into a frenzy. The 27-year-old All-Star centerfielder has been one of the few bright spots in the Pirates organization which seems to constantly be in disarray.
Reynolds is entering the prime of his career and is most likely looking for a change of scenery after watching many of his former teammates get traded over the last several seasons for prospects for a rebuilding Pirates club. Reynolds is a career .281 hitter with a .361/.481/.842 slash line to go along with it. Reynolds also has an outstanding career 13.2 WAR.
The only way I potentially see Reynolds as an option for the Mets is if they fail to re-sign Brandon Nimmo this winter. Nimmo's market has been scorching over the last couple of weeks and there is no guarantee he returns to the Mets next season. If the front office loses out on Nimmo and they are looking to add an impact outfielder, Reynolds may very well fit the bill.
However, it's going to take an absolute haul to take Reynolds off the Pirates' hands as he is not scheduled to be a free agent until 2026, which gives the Pirates' front office lots of leverage in their asking price. They have also made it known around the league that it will take a significant return for them to trade Reynolds. The Mets would have to pony up at least two of their top five prospects as a starting point for trade discussions if they were to be serious contenders in the bidding.
Outside of Brandon Nimmo, the center field free agent market is very shallow in terms of impact players. There may not be a better higher-end option who may be available to potentially replace Nimmo's productivity with other than Bryan Reynolds.
2) NY Mets trade target Rafael Devers
Rafael Devers is a 26-year-old third baseman who seems to just be hitting his prime in the Majors and is somehow the subject of trade rumors this offseason. It makes no sense, especially with a big market team like the Boston Red Sox, but should Devers and the Red Sox not move forward on an agreement on a contract extension, Devers would be a fine option for the Mets at the hot corner.
Last season Devers hit .296 with 27 home runs and 88 RBIs while hitting in the middle of the Red Sox lineup and he would provide a huge need for another bat in the Mets lineup as currently constructed. As of right now, the Mets have some combination of Eduardo Escobar and Brett Baty penciled in at third base going into 2023, but if there is an opportunity to make a significant upgrade with a two-time All-Star and Silver Slugger Award winner you have to consider pulling the trigger.
Devers would obviously require a contract extension as that has been the main issue between both him and the Red Sox as Devers is scheduled to be a free agent in 2024. The Mets certainly have the money to do it, but in order to acquire Devers it's going to also cost them quite a bit. MLB.com had proposed a trade in which the Mets would give up Brett Baty, right-handed pitching prospect Blade Tidwell (#8), and outfield prospect Nick Morabito (#14).
In regards to the proposed trade that MLB.com makes, I would make that trade in a heartbeat. I do think the Mets would have to give up one other piece for Devers if this trade were to realistically get done, but it's rare to get a star player who is about to hit their prime, and a Devers acquisition would shake up the National League East.
3) NY Mets trade target Corbin Burnes
While the Mets have recently signed Justin Verlander to replace Jacob deGrom, the Mets are still searching for options in their starting rotation as they have been linked to pitchers such as Kodai Senga, Carlos Rodon, and Jameson Taillon. If for some reason none of these options pan out and the Mets are looking to make another splash in their rotation, former Cy Young Award winner Corbin Burnes should be an option to explore.
The 28-year-old Burnes is scheduled to be a free agent after 2024 and there currently have been no signs from the Brewers of potentially extending him in the near future. As in custom Brewers fashion, it is widely expected that the organization will trade Burnes prior to him becoming a free agent as they more than likely will avoid ponying up the cash it will take to retain him.
Last season, Burnes posted a 2.94 ERA over 33 starts with 243 strikeouts in 202 innings pitched. That doesn't go without saying that Burnes also had posted a nasty 0.965 WHIP in 2022. It's rare for a Cy Young Award winner to hit the trade block, especially when they are not considered a rental so I can imagine the asking price for Burnes will be exorbitant and would easily cost the Mets multiple prospects and probably some Major League-ready talent.
I believe exploring a trade for Burnes should only be made if the Mets are unlucky in shoring up their rotation this winter with some of the previous options mentioned. But just think, how intriguing would it be though for the Mets to have three Cy Young Award winners in their starting rotation next season?
4) NY Mets trade target Ian Happ
Ian Happ was a name that was floated around the trade circles during last year's Trade Deadline as the Chicago Cubs were in full fire sale mode, and surprisingly Happ ended up staying with the Cubs after the deadline had passed. Now there is no real clear direction in which direction the Cubs are looking to go this offseason, but if Happ was a tradeable asset last summer, surely he's going to potentially be able to be had again this winter for the right price.
The 28-year-old outfielder hit .271 with 17 home runs and 72 RBIs for the Cubs last season, and he would also be a potential option for the Mets should they lose out on the Brandon Nimmo sweepstakes. Happ also is scheduled for free agency in 2024, and Cubs reporter Mark Feinsand has said it's likely Happ opens 2023 in a new uniform as he is the Cubs' prime trade candidate on their current roster.
Happ is coming off a Gold Glove award and he was named a National League All-Star last season, and he would fit nicely as a right-handed bat in the Mets lineup next season. I would anticipate the Mets would probably have to part with a top-ten prospect and maybe another lower-level prospect to acquire Happ prior to the season.
Similar to Bryan Reynolds, Happ would be another impact bat that the Mets could use if they need to pivot to plan B in regard to their outfield alignment next season. It's also fair to note that Happ would probably cost the Mets a bit less in terms of price than Reynolds due to Happ hitting free agency next off-season.
5) NY Mets trade target(s) Cedric Mullins or Anthony Santander
The Baltimore Orioles always seem to be a total wildcard in regards to what moves they are going to make as they surprisingly traded away closer Jorge Lopez and first baseman Trey Mancini in the middle of a playoff race. The Orioles' outfield is also crowded and if they are looking to make room in their outfield they have two outfielders in Cedric Mullins and Anthony Santander that may make sense for the Mets in some capacity.
One of these players would also be an option for the Mets in regards to potentially losing Brandon Nimmo this off-season. The 28-year-old Santander is coming off a huge year in which he slugged 33 home runs and 89 RBIs and would make a nice option for the Mets as a switch-hitting power bat in the middle of their lineup. Santander has two years of club control remaining and he would probably cost less in terms of prospects in comparison to Cedric Mullins, but nonetheless, he would be a very appealing option as a corner outfield option if the Mets moved Starling Marte to center field.
Cedric Mullins is one of the most exciting players in baseball and would fit swimmingly atop the Mets lineup as a potential center-field option for the Mets. Last season with the Orioles Mullins hit .258/.318/.721 with 16 home runs, 64 RBIs, and 34 stolen bases to build off of his 30-30 All-Star season in 2021. Mullins is not scheduled to be a free agent until 2026 which means the Mets would have to mortgage a significant portion of their farm to acquire him from the Orioles but he is easily considered one of the top three or four all-around center fielders in baseball.
The Orioles are one team to watch in regards to how they approach the offseason with their plethora of outfield talent and if they are willing to make either one of these outfielders available in trade talks, the Mets should definitely be in the mix.
Next. Mets power rankings: The five biggest needs this offseason. dark