3 former Mets players who could get traded this summer and where they could land

We are approaching the trade deadline, and all teams will move to improve their position in the standing or their farm systems. The New York Mets will be active by the deadline, and some familiar faces to Queens fans could change teams this summer.

The 2023 trade deadline can showcase a lot of talent, from pitchers like Dylan Cease to the best player in the big leagues, Shohei Ohtani. However, within this group of players, there are three former Mets whose permanence in their current organizations is in jeopardy.

Former Mets starter Marcus Stroman could be out of the Windy City

On July 28, 2019, the Toronto Blue Jays and the New York Mets made a trade where the Mets sent prospects Simeon Woods Richardson and Anthony Kay to Toronto for Marcus Stroman. Stroman pitched 238.2 innings with the Mets between 2019 and 2021 (opting out in 2020 during the Covid outbreak) with an ERA of 3.21.

Stroman made an impact for the Mets on the field, especially in the 2021 season, where he finished with an ERA+ of 133. However, changes in team preferences and rumors about problems in the clubhouse caused the front office of the Mets to rule out Stroman for a long-term contract.

Stroman's market didn't stay robust that offseason, allowing the Chicago Cubs to sign him to a three-year, $71 million deal. With the Cubs, Stroman has been throwing at a level similar to what he had with the Mets.

The Cubs have slowed down and are currently out of the standings, which makes them sellers. This opens up a range of possibilities for the team, including trading Stroman, who has one year left on his contract and has an opt-out after this season.

Stroman has been an efficient pitcher on the field, making him a target for many contending teams. The Baltimore Orioles or his old team, the Toronto Blue Jays, need starting pitchers, which makes them a good fit for Stroman's services.

However, the Arizona Diamondbacks is the team where Stroman will end up. The Dbacks need multiple starting pitching options and have an attractive enough farm system to make them the best trade partner for the Cubs.

Former Met first baseman Dominic Smith will be in another city in August

When the Mets drafted Dominic Smith with the #11 overall pick in the 2011 draft, they hoped they'd found a first baseman with a chance to be the No. 3 hitter in their future lineup. Smith was projected to be an everyday player with above-average potential in hitting and power.

Smith struggled early in his Mets career with bat consistency and weight issues. His best years with the Mets were in 2019 and 2020, when he put in good offensive production, but from this point on he fell sharply until hitting below .200 in 2022.

This caused the Mets to give up waiting for a change, so they non-tendered Smith back in November 2022. From that moment on, Smith became a free agent, finally signing with the Washington Nationals to a one-year contract for just $2 million.

This season Smith has put up good numbers with the Nationals. This makes it an attractive trade candidate for its offensive production and cost.

The Texas Rangers sports a team that could benefit from a player like Dom Smith due to their need for DH and players who can play outfield. The Milwaukee Brewers is another team that could use Smith at first base by moving Rowdy Tellez to the DH position.

However, Dominic Smith will end up wearing the New York Yankees jersey. The Yankees are a team that could benefit from Smith's utility by playing occasional first base for Anthony Rizzo, in left field and being an inexpensive left-handed bat capable of hitting an impact in that ballpark. For that cost, Smith can be a good bench piece for a contending team.