Which 3 NY Mets prospects would the Padres demand in a Juan Soto trade?

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We’re going to see lots of New York Mets rumors this offseason involving the possibility of a Juan Soto trade. Will it actually happen? It’s going to take a ransom even if the San Diego Padres are hoping to lower the payroll.

Soto is the kind of player you do sell a part of the farm to acquire. The debate for Mets fans is whether he’s worth it with only one year of control left and a team that looks further from contention than it did at the start of 2023. The reloaded farm system has given them some assets to move. Should any of those prospects be removed from the upcoming Mets rumors?

Zach Rotman took a look over at Friars on Base at three Mets prospects that the Padres must demand in any trade for Soto. Are any worth hugging onto tighter to keep?

1) Is Drew Gilbert a strong enough headliner in a Juan Soto trade?

Drew Gilbert came over from the Houston Astros in the Justin Verlander trade and excelled for Double-A Binghamton. In his 154 trips to the plate there he slashed .325/.423/.561 with 6 home runs and 21 RBI. It was a huge improvement from what he did in 264 plate appearances in Double-A prior to the trade deadline; a .241/.342/.371 batting line, another 6 home runs, and 20 RBI.

What do we digest from this? Gilbert got better changing teams. It’s not because the Mets are magical. More so, Gilbert might have figured some things out.

He’s still very fresh to professional baseball having played only 11 games last season and another 116 in 2023. Gilbert has given us a ton of optimism that he’ll be in the big leagues very soon and contributing in a major way.

There is a huge uneasy feeling about trading away Gilbert. Although the attachment to him is brand new, it’s understandable why the Padres would want him in a trade involving Soto. He feels as much of a “must” as anyone in the organization.

Do the Mets agree to it? As good as Gilbert could end up being, things can get real crowded at Citi Field in the outfield, real fast. Gilbert is not untouchable in a trade for Soto only if the other players they have to give up are more expendable. For sure, the Mets can’t trade Gilbert and this other prospect.

2) Jett Williams is a prospect the team could sell high on, but should they?

There isn’t a Mets prospect there I’m more of a fan of than Jett Williams. It’s funny how one year can make a person go from getting really into Kevin Parada to shifting gears and being all about the guy the Mets took right around the same time in the draft, Williams.

What makes Williams so intriguing are the possibilities. He was a shortstop who has now shifted into playing some center field. Obviously, shortstop is blocked with Francisco Lindor. Center field could be the path for Williams to eventually slot in while maybe remaining flexible.

Small in stature yet far from short of talent, he’s another one of those prospects mentioned as a must in a deal for Soto. I tend to agree. Williams is the sort of headliner the Padres should look to add to their organization if they’re going to send Soto anywhere this offseason.

Combined at three levels this year, Williams hit .263/.425/.451. He managed to go deep 13 as well. The most notable statistics came from his legs and eyes. Williams swiped 45 bases in 52 attempts and walked 104 times.

Williams has future leadoff hitter written all over him. Listed at only 5’6, comparisons to Jose Altuve are already happening. I’d be more hesitant to trade him than Gilbert at the moment because of the different types of tools he brings. Plus, I get easily attached. Now where is my childhood teddy bear?

3) NY Mets rumors: Ryan Clifford is expendable in a Juan Soto trade

The last of the Mets prospects mentioned is Ryan Clifford. The other prospect acquired from the Astros for Verlander, he’s a first baseman/corner outfielder with some awesome power. He hit 24 home runs this past year in his age 19 season. Although his .188/.307/.376 slash line in 32 games for the Brooklyn Cyclones was underwhelming, he did pummel 6 balls over the outfield wall.

As Rotman notes, Clifford isn’t quite headliner-worthy enough for the Padres. This doesn’t necessarily mean a trade for Soto would require him plus Gilbert or Williams. The Mets have some youth on the MLB roster already.

Would adding in Brett Baty, Mark Vientos, Ronny Mauricio, or dare we say, Francisco Alvarez sweeten the pot? Obviously not a single one of these prospects would be enough to acquire Soto. Players such as Baty and Vientos would run into the same problem with the Padres as they have with the Mets. Where do they even play?

At least one outfielder and probably some pitching would appease the Padres. It can’t be slop either. Considering their top prospect, Ethan Salas, is a catcher, how interested would they be in Parada anyway?

The most fascinating of trade packages to possibly put together would once again pair Gilbert with Clifford plus add in a little something else. To leverage paying for Verlander’s contract to turn it into two pieces then deal for Soto is either genius or moronic.

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