4 Mets prospects to take off the table in a potential Shohei Ohtani trade

4) NY Mets prospect Alex Ramirez is off-limits in a trade for Shohei Ohtani

Here’s where the line is drawn. If we’re going off of the MLB.com list of top prospects, Alex Ramirez is the last the Mets need to hold onto. Everyone else is fair game when it comes to an Ohtani trade. They have to give up something good to get him. The Angels can have their pick from the rest.

Holding onto Ramirez seems abundantly important for the Mets who have some seriously shallow minor league outfielders. This has been the case for several years. And while it isn’t causing too many problems now, they don’t want to have to reach into free agency every single offseason for a new addition.

Ramirez has the tools to become a future MLB center fielder just in time for when we’d expect Brandon Nimmo to maybe lose a few steps. Even if it’s not center field where he plays, this 20-year-old seems like he could be pretty special.

At the risk of potentially trading away the next young outfield superstar, the Mets are better off putting together a package of different players to headline a deal with the Angels for Ohtani. Jett Williams and Ronny Mauricio can go. Give them Mark Vientos and/or Blade Tidwell.

The top-heavy Mets farm system is something the front office should continue to be careful with. They’ve balked at previous deals for these young players. There is no need to change direction.