3 Mets prospects who are obvious trade bait, 2 whose fate has yet to be determined

Cautious is a word to describe the New York Mets this offseason. They didn’t swing any of those big blockbuster trades nor should we expect them to do so before Opening Day. The farm system has remained intact as the club continues to build upon what has now become a strength of the organization.

Within this farm system are some obvious trade candidates as well as a few others who could determine their fate in the coming year. Which Mets prospects are bound to get traded and which others may soon join as obvious candidates to get dealt?

Mets prospect Kevin Parada is obvious trade bait

There isn’t a more obvious prospect the Mets could trade than Kevin Parada. At a position already locked in by a guy who held the number one spot in MLB not that long ago, the catcher conundrum for the Mets isn’t so debatable. Parada’s destiny won’t have him squatting behind home plate at Citi Field in anything other than road grays or perhaps an ugly neon Player’s Weekend uniform.

Parada didn’t do much to engage in some sort of future catcher controversy. In 2023, the 11th overall pick batted .248/.324/.428 with 14 home runs spread throughout stints from A-Ball up to Double-A. Striking out 126 times in 105 games didn’t help matters much either nor did a defensive season where it has come into question whether he’ll even be a major league catcher.

The Mets could always find a spot for Parada as a backup catcher or even have him change positions. The backup route certainly seems to make more sense, at least in terms of playing time. The plethora of prospects they have at a wide variety of positions doesn’t resolve anything easily. And unless Parada can hit at a high level, his only real value will come as a catcher anyway.