Mets Monday Morning GM: 3 trade targets who make more sense now than they did a month ago

The MLB trade deadline is fun but if you don’t like things moving quickly, you better get out of the way. Things change quickly. The needs for the New York Mets have already flipped a ton.

Injuries, underperformances, and the price for certain players have all swayed while giving the Mets a slightly different perspective on what they should or shouldn’t do over the next 36 hours. These three players, who didn’t quite make as much sense a month ago, suddenly do.

1) Blake Snell

The idea of the Mets trading for Blake Snell ushers in some strange feelings. It has nothing to do with his representation as a member of the 2022 San Diego Padres. Snell was an obvious pass in the offseason if for no other reason than the qualifying offer penalties he carried with him. Now trade rumors regarding different teams looking into the reigning Cy Young winner should have us wondering if he’s a good fit for the Mets or not.

After the Kodai Senga injury, he is.

The remainder of his $32 million contract is a big sack of cash and with a $30 million player option for next year with $15 million deferred to 2027, Snell will have to wait a little longer to own every video game in the world twice over. It’s a large sum for the Mets to add to the payroll this year and possibly next if Snell ends up opting into his deal. Would we want him to opt in or out? It’s such a tricky situation.

Sticking more to the present, Snell has been amazing since his IL return—the latest one. He pitched three bad games in April. Two more in May and another in June. In July, Snell is on a ridiculous stretch of 24 innings, 8 hits allowed, 2 earned runs, and 30 strikeouts. Half of them came against the Colorado Rockies on Saturday.

We can’t look at Snell’s season numbers and know much about a guy who has been much better in the second half for his career. At 28-39 with a 3.98 ERA in the first half, he’s very meh. At 39-17 with a 2.43 ERA, he’s on a Hall of Fame trajectory.

Snell didn’t make sense for the Mets a month ago because of how disastrous his year was and the lack of a need for a guy with such great ace potential. Today, we have to think it over as others check in on whether or not the San Francisco Giants are willing to deal him and what it'll cost.

2) Michael Kopech

My tune on Michael Kopech has completely changed. It’s not just because he is pitching better either. The addition of Kopech to the Mets is more strategic than anything. The cost should still be a little insane considering the extra year of control he has. Despite being 2-8 with a 4.74 ERA in 43.2 innings, Kopech is a talented arm for the Mets to consider and maybe not a guy to immediately land on the roster either.

Kopech has those beautiful minor league options available to him. How ‘bout that? Make a trade deadline deal for a guy who hasn’t pitched in the minor leagues since 2018 and send him there immediately. The Mets need to keep room open on the roster to give themselves a fresh arm, especially with Adrian Houser no longer here either. This is where Kopech has added value.

The Mets did something similar with Trevor Williams back in 2021. They sent him to Syracuse and recalled him when the need for some pitching knocked on the door. Kopech would immediately land on the Mets roster right now. However, five of their current bullpen roster spots are occupied by guys without options. One is Jose Butto who isn’t going anywhere. The Mets also have Reed Garrett (optional but good) and Sean Reid-Foley (not optional) coming back.

Kopech opens up some different possibilities. Don’t overpay, but don’t pass on a good opportunity.