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3 Mets players to remove from the block after the Max Scherzer trade
The Mets should remove these three players from the trade block.
All bets are off for the New York Mets. In these final hours of Mets rumors floating around, the Max Scherzer trade has proven anything can happen.
Are the Mets going to dismantle further? One would think not. Players under team control for next year feel a bit safer, but who the heck really knows? The trade deadline got quiet before it went really loud. The possibility of Scherzer snuck up on us quickly and it was over before we knew it.
The Mets have some obvious pieces to trade right now. However, there are some others they need to hold onto. They should listen to offers for everyone but only to entertain themselves. These three Mets should be removed from the trade block.
1) NY Mets rumors: Remove Justin Verlander from the trade block
Trading Justin Verlander right now would feel like overkill. What kind of a haul back would the Mets receive? He’d definitely have a portion of his salary paid for by Steve Cohen, right? For a major prospect or two, is it worth it? It would be the best way for Cohen to spend money and set the team up for the future as long as the player(s) they get back actually turn into something.
The problem with trading Verlander is it puts the Mets into a closer state of rebuild. Verlander has been much better for the team of late. Starting over from scratch with this rotation would be a major mistake. Remove him and we have a rotation of Kodai Senga, Jose Quintana, and anyone’s guess next year.
Trading Verlander for a major prospect or two should only happen if the Mets have zero interest in competing next year. In which case, they need to shop Pete Alonso around, too. It would be completely anti-Cohen expectations for the Mets to make either move. Then again, trading Scherzer felt unprecedented as well.
You stick with Verlander because if Scherzer can be traded so can Verlander next year. JV can be the cornerstone of the rotation for the 2024 season alongside Senga and hopefully at least one more big arm.
Let the Los Angeles Dodgers make their best offer. Reject it with a smile. Free agency and trades won’t replace what he can offer.
2) NY Mets rumors: Remove Brooks Raley from the trade block
Who else expects Billy Eppler or whoever happens to be the general manager next year to successfully snag another Brooks Raley? Not I. Raley’s team option for 2024 is attractive. He answers a bullpen question for the Mets they’ve frequently had trouble at resolving. They’ve gone far too long without a credible lefty reliever (two would be nice). He’s another one of those players we want to see nixed from the Mets rumors.
The same rules do apply. If you trade Raley, you’re going to have to begin a search all over again. You should just make everyone available. Nobody wants that. There will be notable lefty relievers out there for the Mets to try and add to replace Raley. And if Eppler’s time as the GM has taught us anything, he definitely does seem to get one good year from players before they fall apart. This is more coincidence than science.
Raley is likely one of the more desirable trade pieces on the Mets roster. For the same reasons other teams would want him, the Mets need to hold on.
The Scherzer trade is justifiable because of the money involved and the performance he gave them. With Raley, it’s different. He’s making modest relief pitcher dough. The trouble with moving on from him is the team will immediately need to find another southpaw for the bullpen next year. If they’ve passed on Andrew Chafin as much as they have, we should have zero confidence they’d get it right.
3) NY Mets rumors: Remove Jose Quintana from the trade block
Jose Quintana has made only two starts for the Mets and they’ve been predictable. He didn’t last long, didn’t give up too many runs, and somehow came away with the loss. Rumors of Quintana having suitors popped up after his first start. The Mets should reconsider because finding another pitcher of his ability for the price they’re paying will be difficult.
In a strange way, Quintana missing most of the 2023 season can benefit him. The 34-year-old has logged over 1700 MLB innings. This “rest” period during his rehab has the potential to have him a little fresher for next season. Right now, the Mets are in full “what’s next?” mode. Quintana, with a $13 million salary for 2024, should be a part of it.
It’s not quite as egregious for the Mets to trade Quintana as it would be to deal away Verlander or Raley. We’ve hardly gotten to know the guy. The attachment isn’t there. The demand for a starting pitcher like him is probably pretty great right now and yet so is the need for the Mets to have him back in 2024.
The Mets need to avoid going into every offseason with an empty roster that needs refueling in free agency. This hurt them this past winter. Let’s avoid it again by keeping Quintana around for anything short of a starting pitcher solution for the 2024 campaign. It’s hard to see that kind of offer coming along.
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