5 Mets players not named Pete Alonso who should suddenly be on the trade block this offseason

The New York Mets sold more than expected at this year’s trade deadline. It’s still sinking in. And with Max Scherzer spilling the beans on next year’s plans to lower expectations, the whole direction this offseason could be much different than what we envisioned.

Suddenly, with the Mets aiming to compete in 2025 or 2026 rather than fully reload for next year, these five players need to be on the trade block even more so than they may have already been.

Not included: Pete Alonso. Stop it already. Offer him a contract extension first. Wait until the trade deadline if he's not putting ink to paper and then flip him if you're out of it.

1) NY Mets trade block needs to have Jose Quintana on it

The Mets aren’t opposed to trading a pitcher early on in his tenure. We got how many starts out of Justin Verlander before the plug was pulled? We could get even fewer from Jose Quintana whose first half of the year was wiped out due to a spring injury. He has pitched well for the Mets since debuting from the IL and the reasons to keep him around are dwindling.

It’s conceivable for the Mets to go into next season with Quintana in the rotation. The troubling aspect of this is that he looks much better as a number four or five starter than a top three guy. If the Mets are indeed prepared to lower the bar for the 2024 season, trading Quintana in the offseason should be on the table.

Almost as reasonable is to keep Quintana and wait to flip him at the trade deadline. This comes with its own risks. There are fewer suitors and in a free agency pool without a whole lot of top-tier guys at any position, contenders might be willing to pay the price for a full year of Quintana rather than just rent him for a few weeks.

The Mets run the risk of another Quintana injury disintegrating his trade value. What’s to say he even pitches well next year either? While the commodity is hot, the Mets should move Quintana.

Prediction: The Mets keep Quintana but unload him at the trade deadline when they meet their goal of not being competitive. He’s not that great for the Mets in 2024 and the return is only promising because Steve Cohen eats the remainder of the contract.

2) NY Mets trade block needs to have Brooks Raley on it

The Mets should’ve kept Brooks Raley at the trade deadline for anything short of a sweetheart deal. That’s how many of us were feeling until Scherzer cracked open the can of private conversation and lowered the number of season ticket sales for the Mets next season. If you don’t intend to contend in 2024, Raley makes little sense. The wisest thing to do is to pick up the team option and shop him in the offseason.

The Mets aren’t completely out of luck if they are unable to find the deal they want for Raley. As long as things go well and he isn’t a total bust in the regular season, they should have takers for him at the trade deadline. We all understand with relievers how many unknowns there are. A guy can suddenly become an All-Star for a few seasons from out of nowhere. Not long after, he’s back to mopping up games in Triple-A.

Raley increased his trade value tremendously this year and the only way for him to blow it is to have a complete collapse in the final weeks of the season. We’d all enjoy having him in the bullpen again next season. However, the Mets need to have him on the trade block if it’s not an “all in” campaign.

Prediction: The Mets keep Raley despite some offseason trade rumors. He ends up traded at the deadline for even more prospects.

3) NY Mets trade block needs to have Jeff McNeil on it

Jeff McNeil’s 2022 batting title season is sandwiched between two similar down seasons. The Mets shouldn’t sell him low. It doesn’t hurt to shop him around especially with the presence of Ronny Mauricio and Luisangel Acuna in the system and possibly almost ready for the big leagues.

The benefits of keeping McNeil around are plentiful. His ability to play multiple positions and do so well makes him an asset. The problem with the Mets is McNeil is yet another light-hitting player who they can excuse as a second baseman but as a corner outfielder feels a little too extreme.

Power isn’t needed at every position. To have McNeil whose own abilities to hit for a high average can be called into question as your starting left fielder feels like the team hasn’t done enough. Brandon Nimmo hasn’t exactly had the greatest of seasons in 2023. Starling Marte is one of the biggest question marks on the roster. Those three in the outfield are a roll of the dice. McNeil can certainly stay and remain the starting second baseman and fill-in at other positions. He just isn’t a player the Mets should hold for ransom in a trade.

The McNeil contract extension he signed earlier this year is guaranteed through 2026 with a team option in 2027. This doesn’t mesh as perfectly with the expected plan to aim at 2025 for the next season when they seriously compete. 

Prediction: There are a lot of McNeil trade rumors in the offseason. He ultimately stays and rebounds with a big year in 2024. Maybe then, with the trade value up again, the Mets ship him out.

4) NY Mets trade block needs to have Adam Ottavino on it

Curiously, the Mets held onto Adam Ottavino who has a player option for next season. Was the market that small for the veteran righty? There’s a chance that with his age he’d prefer to walk away and take less money to pitch for a contender. If so, the Mets made a mistake of not dealing him away last week.

A conversation needed to happen between the Mets and Ottavino about this. He re-signed with them in the offseason so he must not hate it here. As a New Yorker, the location has some meaning already.

The more pondering about Ottavino’s continued stay on the Mets roster you make, the more it’s worth questioning why he’s remaining. In fairness, he might not get another one-year deal worth the $7.25 million he’s signed for next season. He has been good but not excellent. Another year of taxation on his arm takes away some of the appeal. His 2022 season justified the current contract. What he has done in 2023 doesn’t.

Prediction: Ottavino opts out of his deal and it’s a moot point to trade him. There might not be too many years left for him in the big leagues. Despite having 18 playoff appearances, Ottavino has never made it to the World Series let alone won it.

He did recently discuss his intentions of returning next season. Things could change. And even if he does opt into the deal, trade shouldn't be off the table for the Mets.