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3 trade targets for the Mets to start scouting if the Cardinals continue to tank
Too soon to start pillaging and plundering? The Vikings definitely scouted out Great Britain before they arrived for some sacking. That’s all we’re doing here as we look at the St. Louis Cardinals for a few future trade targets the New York Mets should have in mind.
The Cardinals have been the biggest disappointment of the season thus far. They’re in a division with several teams overachieving. And while they’re far from out of the playoff picture, a slow start out of the gate could come back to haunt them in what has looked like a far more competitive National League Central.
Billy Eppler should already have his eyes set on some future additions to the Mets roster this summer. If the Cardinals tank, it’s these three players we can expect to be most attainable and reasonable enough fits for the Mets.
1) NY Mets trade target on the Cardinals: Jordan Montgomery
We know Jordan Montgomery can handle New York. Although he has barely pitched in the postseason in his career with just 6.2 innings of work spanning a pair of appearances, he comes across tenacious enough to get the job done in October. The same may not be true for some of the other Mets pitchers. More so, are we really certain the Mets will have a fully healthy rotation by the time October arrives?
The Mets will first need to get to the postseason before we can start talking about Montgomery leading the team to victory in the NLCS. With as battered as the starting staff has been already this season, it could take at least one more big addition to the rotation.
Jose Quintana has yet to pitch for the team. Carlos Carrasco is projected to provide the Mets with “god only knows.” Then there’s Kodai Senga who has yet to fully confirm he was the right man to sign.
Montgomery is a free agent after the 2023 season making him a reasonable trade piece to target as long as the Cardinals stay stuck in the mud.
2) NY Mets trade target on the Cardinals: Jack Flaherty
Another free agent starting pitcher after this season on the Cardinals roster is Jack Flaherty. He doesn’t turn 28 until October which means he could be getting a pretty big contract this offseason if all goes well for him in 2023. Flaherty has been a well-known pitcher around the league for several years. If you haven’t paid close attention, you may be surprised to realize that despite the success of the Cardinals, he hasn’t been spectacular.
Flaherty has suffered from a bit of Michael Wacha-ism. There’s something about young Cardinals players doing well early on and becoming much more average as they approach their late 20s. Flaherty has battled through some injuries. He’s nearing free agency and has topped 100 innings just twice in his career.
The Mets wouldn’t be looking for anything more than a mercenary to help get them through the end of the season and playoffs. Flaherty’s health concerns may be a bigger issue for whoever signs him in free agency. Are they really even an issue? It seems like every pitcher follows the Zack Wheeler path of showcasing who they really are around the age of 30.
Infusing a little bit more youth into the Mets pitching staff couldn’t hurt. Flaherty may not be an ace (Montgomery isn’t either) but in terms of trade deadline additions, he could be one of the better pitchers the Mets could look to acquire.
3) NY Mets trade target on the Cardinals: Tyler O’Neill
Tyler O’Neill may even get traded this year even if the Cardinals pull themselves together. He has been off to a slow start. More so, it’s his lack of hustling early in the season which has put a target on his back as a player to move on from.
O’Neill is definitely not someone to get all that thrilled about. Since debuting in 2018, he has just two seasons of over 200 plate appearances. His 2021 campaign was a career-year featuring a .286/.352/.560 performance. O’Neill added 34 home runs and 80 RBI. He won his second consecutive Gold Glove.
O’Neill is far from spectacular. Even his defense hasn’t been tremendous over the last two seasons. As the Cardinals continue to hand over starts to other outfielders, he becomes even more attainable for the Mets.
The fit we find in New York for O’Neill would be as a potential upgrade over Tommy Pham. He doesn’t have spectacular numbers against lefties in his career, but that’s not the point of acquiring him. O’Neill has the potential to be a defensive upgrade over Pham. His ceiling is much greater. And while he hasn’t consistently hit for power in his career, we know he is capable of it. The Mets could certainly use more of that on their bench. If all goes well, O’Neill is even a consideration to start in left field next season. He won’t reach free agency until after 2024.
The Cardinals have an opportunity to make up for lost time and avoid any kind of midseason fire sale. If not, get ready to plunder.
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