3 Justin Verlander trade packages Billy Eppler can’t refuse

The New York Mets are in sellers mode with the trades of David Robertson and Max Scherzer. Among the options the team has most intriguing case is Justin Verlander, who pitched well again on Sunday and has a 1.59 ERA in his last seven outings.

According to Andy Martino, the Mets are keeping the possibility of making a trade for Verlander open, but the sense in the industry is that he would remain with the team after the trade deadline. Within the offers that may arise, there are three trade packages that Billy Eppler could not say no to in a Verlander trade.

The Mets could not say no to a trade for Drew Gilbert and Forrest Whitley from the Houston Astros

The case of a Justin Verlander trade is complex due to its financial cost and the full no-trade clause attached to his contract. This no-trade clause makes negotiations hard because Verlander would have to agree with where he would go and under what conditions.

However, if his destination is the city of Houston, he would have no problem accepting a trade for his old team. The problem with the Astros is finding common ground because the organization's farm system does not have as much depth as it once did.

If we take a similar scenario as the Max Scherzer trade as a reference, it is easy to understand that Verlander has an even higher value in the market. This means the Mets would demand an even greater return if they decide to trade their ace.

In this case, Drew Gilbert, the No. 1 prospect in the Astros organization, along with Forrest Whitley, the No. 19 prospect, would be a package the Mets could not resist. Gilbert, the No. 69 prospect in all of baseball, is a compact size player with high-contact skills to get the ball into play and raw power in his swing speed on the bases.

Whitley is a former first round pick in the 2016 draft who has seen his value drop due to a lack of command and control. Whitley, however, continues to display an electrifying 100-mph fastball and good movement on the rest of the three pitches that complete his arsenal but his lack of command has affected his career results.

With Glbert and Whitley, the Mets would strengthen their farm system with two great prospects who could debut around 2025 with the team and be impact players in MLB. A trade of this caliber would not make Billy Eppler hesitate.