Juan Soto and 3 other 'scary possibility' trade targets other teams should fear the Mets could land
There is a 'scary possibility' that the Mets bounce back in 2024 and build a true contender.
It's about to be that time of year again. Every player who makes or will make a ton of money will be linked to the New York Mets some way because of who their owner is. Steve Cohen has proven he'll stop at nothing to try and win, and has Mets fans dreaming of potential stars they can acquire for the 2024 season.
Juan Soto is the latest example of a star who every insider seems to be linking to the Mets. The Padres are looking to slash payroll meaning the chances of them keeping Soto in town past the 2024 season are slim to none. Soto will presumably be on the market this offseason with that in mind, and the Mets should absolutely be calling.
The Mets have the prospect capital to get a Soto deal done after their huge trade deadline, and are one of few teams that can reach Soto's high demands financially. While the Mets will certainly check in on Soto if he's made available this offseason, there're several other 'scary possibilities' the Mets can pursue in a trade that other teams should fear.
1) NY Mets 'scary possibility' trade candidate teams should fear: Corbin Burnes
It makes too much sense. David Stearns, the man who drafted Corbin Burnes and saw his ascension from a reliever to Cy Young Award winner, is now running the show in Flushing. The Brewers insulted Burnes during his arbitration process last offseason, fracturing their relationship potentially beyond repair. While he's there now, what are the chances he stays in Milwaukee long-term?
Rather than wait for the Mets to throw a crazy free agency offer at Burnes in the 2024 offseason, Milwaukee can trade their ace for a haul as he enters his final year of team control. The Mets have a need for pitching, and the Brewers can't afford to lose him for nothing.
Adding Burnes can be seen as even scarier than Juan Soto. While the lineup underperformed in 2023, there's every reason to believe the Mets will score more runs in 2024. On the pitching side of things, however, things look a lot bleaker. The Mets have Kodai Senga, Jose Quintana, and... not much.
If the Mets are somehow able to acquire one of the best pitchers in all of baseball to lead their staff we're suddenly looking at a rotation that has the potential of being one of the league's best in 2024 after a lot of struggles in 2023.
2) NY Mets 'scary possibility' trade candidate teams should fear: Logan Gilbert
The Seattle Mariners are looking to make the postseason for a second straight year and if they do, it'll be thanks to their starting pitching. Luis Castillo, George Kirby, Logan Gilbert, Bryan Woo, and Bryce Miller make up one of the best rotations in baseball. This is not even including former Cy Young award winner Robbie Ray, or talented arms like Emerson Hancock, Marco Gonzales, or Easton McGee who are all on the IL.
The Mariners have studs up and down the rotation and depth as strong as any other team. While that's all great, the lineup leaves a lot to be desired. Julio Rodriguez is a superstar, but there're a whole lot of question marks around him. With Teoscar Hernandez hitting free agency this offseason, the future of this lineup is even harder to picture.
With the Mariners needing offense, they were at the very least listening to offers for their starting pitching at the trade deadline. No trade was made, but Seattle was open to it. They could re-examine trade possibilities this offseason, and the Mets should ask about Logan Gilbert if they do.
Seattle won't be trading Castillo or Kirby, but Gilbert, feels a lot more realistic. He has a 3.73 ERA in 32 starts and 190.2 innings of work this season and would fit in beautifully behind Senga in this Mets rotation.
Gilbert isn't as good as Burnes or Soto but he's under team control through the 2027 season and is one of the game's better young arms. He's just 26 years old and has already established himself as a workhorse. Gilbert has good stuff, doesn't walk anybody, and gets deep into games. There isn't much to not like here. Trading from the bevy of position player prospects or even guys like Brett Baty or Mark Vientos to land Gilbert shouldn't be out of the question.
3) NY Mets 'scary possibility' trade candidate teams should fear: David Bednar
Can you imagine David Bednar setting up for Edwin Diaz? What team would even come close to having a better 8-9 duo to finish a game? It's not out of the question as Pittsburgh made him available at the deadline, and would make this Mets bullpen go from a major weakness to a major strength in an eyeblink.
Bednar has become one of the best closers in the game at 28 years old, but he doesn't get much recognition as a closer for the small-market Pirates who haven't been competitive throughout his career. Bednar has a 2.04 ERA in 65 appearances and 66.1 innings pitched. He's allowed just three home runs all year and leads the league with 38 saves in 41 opportunities.
Bednar is probably the least likely of the three on this list to be moved, but if the Mets overwhelm them with an offer it's very possible that something would go down. I wouldn't offer nearly as much for him as I would for a frontline starter, especially when Josh Hader is out there for nothing but money, but when you're thinking about 'scary possibilities' having a dominant end of game duo like this is very scary for the opposition.
New York lost several games this season in the middle innings as they couldn't get games to their better relievers late. Imagine having guys like Adam Ottavino and Brooks Raley pitching the sixth and seventh with the two stars Bednar and Diaz looming. That would be something to behold.