3 Mets prospects acquired at the trade deadline David Stearns shouldn't be afraid to deal
The Mets shouldn't be too shy about trading away any of these summer additions.
![The Timber Rattlers Justin Jarvis pitches against the Cedar Rapids Kernels Wednesday, Aug. 14,](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,w_3250,h_1828,x_0,y_0/c_fill,w_752,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/ImagnImages/mmsport/3/01hfyary6rgxsfexajyy.jpg)
The New York Mets farm system stacked itself taller this past summer when the team decided 2023 was officially not their year. The team successfully added a variety of top prospects to the organization. Now loaded with a much better crop of young players, the future is looking much better.
Those trade deadline additions aren’t all destined to end up with the Mets in the big leagues. In fact, we can guarantee many won’t.
If the Mets are looking to strike a deal this offseason, it’s these three prospects added at this year’s trade deadline David Stearns shouldn’t even hesitate to deal.
1) Justin Jarvis
The Justin Jarvis for Mark Canha trade with the Milwaukee Brewers isn’t trending toward becoming all that favorable of a deal for the Mets. Canha was terrific for the Brewers and has already been flipped to the Detroit Tigers this offseason.
Jarvis, meanwhile, is a Rule 5 Draft eligible pitcher whose 12 starts in Triple-A haven’t gone so well. All of those appearances came last season. Combining his time with Nashville and Syracuse, Jarvis was 0-7 with an 8.79 ERA one level below the majors.
Jarvis has had his share of struggles. He’s now 23-30 with a 4.56 ERA through his first 416.2 innings of work. Most likely destined to end up as a relief if he cracks the major leagues, he’s an expendable piece for the Mets.
There is a possibility the Mets try to trade him before the Rule 5 Draft in December. Otherwise they risk another team taking a flier on him and losing him for nothing. Although a somewhat promising young arm, Jarvis isn’t on a trajectory to become a star like some of those other players the Mets acquired over the summer.
2) Ronald Hernandez
Ronald Hernandez joined the Mets in the David Robertson trade. Now 20 and coming off of a solid season spent mostly in Rookie Ball, the availability of trading Hernandez away less than a year after acquiring him is an easy conclusion to make.
Hernandez’s main position at the moment is catcher. The Mets already have Francisco Alvarez in the majors and Kevin Parada far closer to the majors than Hernandez. In the right deal, Stearns shouldn’t be shy about trading away Hernandez.
There isn’t anything close to the amount of urgency to trade Hernandez as he’s a few years away still from Rule 5 Draft eligibility. Trading away young catchers too soon isn’t necessary either. Even if you have one young one you really like, it doesn’t hurt to have another for backup duties.
Consider Hernandez excess cargo in the pipeline. There’s nothing wrong with having a young catcher like him around if only to watch him develop further and become an even bigger trade chip. On the other hand, if someone comes calling this winter and the deal feels right, there’s nothing wrong with dealing him away more swiftly.
3) Jeremiah Jackson
It does feel like Mets fans will have some big Jeremiah Jackson debates if he survives the offseason with the club. Acquired in the Dominic Leone trade, Jackson turned up the heat for Binghamton. He went from slashing .248/.321/.447 in the Double-A team for the Los Angeles Angels to hitting .264/.344/.457 with the Mets’ club. It might not seem like a huge difference but with the power he packed and positional versatility, he became an immediate prospect for the fans to focus on.
To be clear, the Mets shouldn’t be actively shopping Jackson. There is far too much to like about him. A seasoned infielder who now plays outfield a little more regularly, he could turn out to be a unique utility player with some good power and speed.
Why does he make this list? When a guy doesn’t have any one position, sometimes it’s better to swap him for someone who does.
Jackson for an equally intriguing pitcher isn’t something to balk at. Jackson already fell out of favor with the Angels. Could he be a guy who stops dead in his tracks once he gets to Triple-A? The Mets should be careful about holding onto a player too closely when there is no obvious starting role for him.
Preferably, the Mets hold onto Jackson and he does end up as some sort of infield utility weapon they can get some decent power out of. But if someone makes Stearns an offer, he should listen.
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