3 NY Mets players who should be traded but won't

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As the New York Mets tumble their way towards the trade deadline, some fans have already adopted the selling mindset and getting as much return for their veterans as possible.

The Mets have a lot of experienced veterans, some such as David Robertson who would command interest on the trade market and be able to net the Mets a decent return. We could not say the same about some of the other veterans the Mets have during this dismal season.

Whether it is due to their performance, value or contracts (or all three,) these three Mets will most likely be on the team past the August 1st trade deadline.

1) Starling Marte and his massive contract will still be on the Mets roster following the trade deadline

In just the span of half a season, the Starling Marte signing has gone from a smart decision to a negative asset.

Marte has gotten off to a slow start this season, being removed from the 2nd spot in the lineup and then briefly out of the lineup entirely. He seems to have lost a step ever since returning from his injury, hitting the ball weaker and more frequently on the ground than in years past.

Still, Marte provides good value to a team looking for outfield depth and speed. He leads the Mets by far with 23 stolen bases, and can play all three positions in the outfield well. With a .256 batting average at the All Star break, he can still provide service to a team for the right price.

Unfortunately, any team looking to trade for Marte will have about 41.5 million reasons to think otherwise. He is owed $20.75 million annually through 2025, giving him the fourth highest AAV across the entire Mets roster. Soon to be 35 years old, Marte figures to regress over the next two seasons and the contract will be an overpay, making any team who trades for him on the hook for that salary.

Starling Marte has taken a step back this season, much to the ire of Mets fans. While trading him for any prospects would be ideal, the market for a previously injured, 35 year old outfielder making over $20 milion for two more seasons will be nonexistent.

2) Adam Ottavino should be traded, but his lack of production will shrink his value on the market

One of the biggest reasons for the Mets success in 2022, Adam Ottavino has taken a massive step back this season, which has fans hoping he can be traded to salvage some of his value. This would be a complete "sell low" on a former top end reliever, and his value might be so low that the Mets might not actually have many takers at all.

Ottavino's ERA is nearly double what it was from a season ago, and at the All Star break he has already given up as many runs as he did all of 2022. His control has failed him, and there will be much more attractive names on the trade block if the Mets sell than Ottavino, with Robertson and Brooks Raley being better options.

Of course, you also have to factor in the contract. Ottavino has a $6.5 million player option for next season, which will almost certainly be higher than what he would command in free agency. Assuming he opts into this deal, this would make it even harder to convince a team to trade for him.

If the Mets were to trade Ottavino, they would most likely have to take on a good portion of his salary this year, then find a team willing to pay him $6.5 million next season as well. Even if the Mets are able to do both of these, the return might not be high for a player who looks to be on the decline.

3) Omar Narvaez is worth more to the Mets than whatever return they would get in a trade

Omar Narvaez's injury led to the call up of Francisco Alvarez, and Alvarez has staked his claim on the starting job since then. While Narvaez might command a decent return in a trade, at this point he has too much value to the Mets to include in one, given his skill and mentorship to Alvarez.

An All Star in 2021, Narvaez got off to a blazing start this season before landing on the IL early on. Since then, Alvarez has shown why he's the future of the Mets, making Narvaez a very expensive backup.

However, Alvarez has grown significantly as a catcher this season opposed to last, and much of that can be attributed to Narvaez and his mentorship. His defense is much improved, his framing is amongst the best in the league, and he has shown a much better discipline at the plate in 2023.

There are several teams would inquire with the Mets about the former All Star, who is still 31 and on a one year deal. However, the Mets should use him instead to mentor Alvarez throughout the season, and at worst he will be one of the better backup catchers in baseball. Unless the Mets get a fantastic offer, Narvaez will most likely remain with the team until his contract is up.

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