3 blockbuster trades Ronny Mauricio can headline

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The New York Mets entered the second half over 20 games over .500 and in first place in the NL East. It's been a great start to the season, but I don't think the Mets are there yet.

By there, I mean World Series contenders. Trades need to be made at the deadline to help this team get to where they want to be. A guy who I believe should be traded at the deadline is Ronny Mauricio.

Mauricio is the third highest ranked prospect in the Mets system according to mlb.com and is number 52 overall on the top 100 list. He has a bright future, but I don't think it's with the Mets.

While he projects to be a corner infielder or outfielder due to his size, Mauricio has played only shortstop in the minors. With the Mets having Francisco Lindor locked up for another 10 years, it makes no sense to keep him while his value is still high.

There are three elite players who will be available at the deadline that the Mets should consider using Ronny Mauricio to trade for.

1) NY Mets prospect Ronny Mauricio can headline a trade for Reds pitcher Luis Castillo

I have wanted the Mets to trade for Luis Castillo for the longest time. He's a stud, and he's durable. Castillo has one more year of control after this one so his value will be high. Even with the high price tag, it'd be worth it.

The Mets simply cannot rely on Jacob deGrom to pitch. He's yet to pitch this season in the Major Leagues after missing the entire second half last season. A rotation of Max Scherzer, Chris Bassitt, Taijuan Walker, Carlos Carrasco, and David Peterson can be good enough but that rotation is full of injury and regression concerns.

With Castillo the Mets would be acquiring an ace to be ideally their third starter. A playoff rotation with deGrom, Scherzer, Castillo, and Bassitt would be pretty unfair. Even without deGrom and subbing in all-star snub Taijuan Walker that rotation would still be insane.

The Mets need another bat and some bullpen arms but when an ace is available and the Mets have a very expendable prospect like Mauricio, I think it's worth it to try and make the rotation even more formidable.

2) NY Mets prospect Ronny Mauricio can headline a trade for Cubs catcher Willson Contreras

I think the Mets will strongly consider trading for Willson Contreras at this year's deadline. They have gotten virtually nothing offensively from James McCann and Tomas Nido and now both of those catchers are injured.

I personally believe the Mets can survive with Nido and McCann because of their elite defense behind the plate, but only if they improve the rest of the lineup. Guys like Eduardo Escobar and J.D. Davis can't be getting consistent at bats with how they're playing.

Contreras would be a big bat who is also pretty good defensively. He can hit in the middle of the order and give the Mets way more than they've had offensively from a catcher in a long time.

Contreras does come with some risk though, as he's a free agent after the year. With Francisco Alvarez in AAA and knocking on the door, is it worth it to trade a top prospect for a player who will almost surely be a rental? I say yes if it's the lone missing piece, but I'm not sure if Contreras is that.

If the Mets make the other improvements to their bullpen and lineup, I'd say go out and get Contreras and someone like David Robertson for the bullpen.

3) NY Mets prospect Ronny Mauricio can headline a trade for Athletics pitcher Frankie Montas

Frankie Montas is in a similar boat to Luis Castillo. I don't think he's quite as good as Castillo is, but he'd be a third starter that would probably be a two on most teams.

Counting on deGrom to stay healthy is just not possible right now, and the Mets getting another elite arm would be huge.

Montas has posted a 3.16 ERA in 18 starts this season after posting a 3.37 ERA in 32 starts last season. He's a guy you can rely on to give quality innings as he's gone at least six innings in 12 of his 18 starts.

Like Castillo, Montas is a free agent after next season, so with guys like deGrom, Walker, Bassitt, and Carrasco on the team who can all hit free agency after this season, it'll be good to have Montas here confirmed as a starter for next season.

The 29 year old can also be extended and remain in Queens for a while, hopefully alongside his former Athletics teammate Chris Bassitt.

Losing Ronny Mauricio would be unfortunate as he's a shortstop who can hit for tremendous power, but he just doesn't have a place long term on this team. Lindor is locked up at shortstop, Brett Baty is a better prospect than he is at third, and they haven't used him in the outfield.

Trading him is what win now teams do, and I think the Mets are ready to win right now.

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