Mets rumors: Angels veteran journeyman is a realistic next trade addition

The New York Mets didn’t pay the price for Carlos Estevez. However, some Saturday evening Mets rumors indicate they’re interested in one of his ex-teammates.

Luis Garcia, no not that one on the Washington Nationals. No, not the injured pitcher for the Houston Astros. The journeyman reliever for the Los Angeles Angels. According to Jon Heyman, several teams are eyeing the rental reliever including the Mets.

The 37-year-old has gone 5-1 with a 3.80 ERA for the Angels this season. A walk rate of 3 per 9 and strikeouts at 8.4 per 9, he’s closer to the realm of Ryne Stanek than Estevez.

Recent Mets rumors point toward Luis Garcia being a realistic addition they could make

The remaining portion of a modest $4.25 million deal signed by Garcia this offseason won’t have too many teams wavering away. He has been a steady reliever for several seasons. From 2021-present, his highest ERA for any team was the 4.07 he finished last season with as a member of the San Diego Padres.

Garcia is a realistic option for the Mets to bring in at this point with the cost of players like Estevez becoming increasingly more. Likely to be more in-demand than Stanek, a position player like Nick Morabito would probably get it done.

The Mets traded a similar player, Rhylan Thomas, to the Seattle Mariners for Stanek. The Angels did require the Phillies to give up two pitchers for Estevez. If they’re eyeing arms, the Mets should be cautious about giving up anything of significance. Garcia is good but does he beef up the Mets enough?

The Angels and Mets did business twice last year when in June they traded Eduardo Escobar to Ocean County then followed it up by sending them Dominic Leone. The Angels have some interesting pieces for the Mets to consider. Starter Tyler Anderson? A reunion with Hunter Strickland? Carson Fulmer could be a decent long-man. Now unlikely to come to the Mets now is outfielder Kevin Pillar with the Jesse Winker trade.