Mets Monday Morning GM: 3 strategies working for the Braves to copy more often

2) NY Mets must swing trades for players like Matt Olson and Sean Murphy

Matt Olson and Sean Murphy were really good ball players before getting traded by the Oakland Athletics to the Atlanta Braves. Since joining the Braves, they’ve reached a different level.

The Mets have made only one trade anywhere close to this. We know they have it in them. It’s something they must do again.

The 2021 Francisco Lindor deal is the lone big swing for a younger star in need of a contract extension. The Braves didn’t hesitate to award Olson and Murphy with lengthy deals. New York was able to eventually agree to terms with Lindor long-term. A little too much time has passed since they last made a move like this.

Unfortunately, there might not be as many players around the league who fit into this scheme. Many of the salary basement dwellers have either already extended players or traded anyone about to make a lot of money away. Someone may emerge. Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Corbin Burnes seems like an offseason trade candidate.

Where the Mets have the most leverage is Steve Cohen’s willingness to pay dead money. Something as simple as acquiring Trevor Gott while paying the remainder of Chris Flexen’s deal is powerful. More so, how the Mets traded away a pair of $40+ million pitchers at the deadline and picked up a part of the team to land better prospects shows they don’t always have to do things “the Braves way.” The Mets have their own creative plots. Let’s see if theirs is as effective.