Mets predicted to pull off a blockbuster for the best MLB trade candidate there is

Mike Axisa of CBS Sports knows the way to our heart. In making some second-half predictions, he came up with a big one for the New York Mets. Ahead of next week’s MLB trade deadline, he takes a piece of granite and chisels that the Mets will pull off a blockbuster trade for Garrett Crochet.

In the deal, the Mets send former top 100 prospect Brett Baty, newly minted top 100 prospect Brandon Sproat, Kevin Parada, and more to the Chicago White Sox for their star lefty. The plan would have Crochet in the bullpen for the remainder of 2024 with a shift back to the rotation next year.

Axisa has thought this out well. But how realistic is it for the Mets to pull off such a magnificent blockbuster?

Can the White Sox get more for Garrett Crochet than this Mets trade offer?

Baty and Parada are two of the more expendable prospects in the Mets farm system. Baty has been surpassed by Mark Vientos as the club’s third baseman of the future. Parada has never had a clear path to the majors with Francisco Alvarez around.

Only the inclusion of Sproat in this deal stings at all. Well on his way to winning every Mets minor league award this year, his fast rise has many believing he’ll be in the rotation at some point in 2025.

This trade is only digestible because the Mets are getting Crochet who has already reached the majors and found success. We can only hope Sproat is anything like him. And in order to get Crochet, the Mets are going to need to part with something significant. Sproat, outside of the position players and Christian Scott, is the best they can offer.

Crochet doesn’t reach free agency until after the 2026 season so the Mets would be getting two and a half years of his services. He’d give them a head start on rebuilding next year’s rotation. Not costly to the payroll either, it would allow them some room to spend on others. Crochet and Corbin Burnes pitching on back-to-back days. Citi Field will feel like the playoffs in May.

The question would be if another team would be willing to give up more for Crochet. This deal, if it doesn’t include anything hugely significant along with what was named, deals feel a bit underwhelming. Sproat is only the 95th ranked prospect in baseball but on the rise. Baty has struggled in the majors. Parada hasn’t been so great in the minors. A team with more and better prospect capital should be able to outbid the Mets quite easily.

If you’re the White Sox, you hold out for much more. Crochet is the kind of trade deadline chip you deal to restock your entire farm, not just one shelf.