An under the radar Mets trade candidate other teams will inquire about

Mar 20, 2023; West Palm Beach, Florida, USA;  New York Mets left fielder Tim Locastro (83) catches a
Mar 20, 2023; West Palm Beach, Florida, USA; New York Mets left fielder Tim Locastro (83) catches a | Rhona Wise-USA TODAY Sports

The New York Mets certainly built themselves up to contend for a World Series. The duo of Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander would carry them through the regular season and into the playoffs. They spent a ton of money to retain players like Brandon Nimmo and Edwin Diaz. The rotation was bolstered with Jose Quintana and Kodai Senga.

A lesser move by the Mets signaling their intention to win a championship was the free agent signing of Tim Locastro, Yeah, it’s not quite up there with Verlander. The intention was obvious, though. Locastro would be the September and October extra guy off the bench to pinch run. He’d be their Terrence Gore except now that the Mets don’t look like they’ll make the playoffs, he’s an under the radar trade candidate teams will be asking the Mets about.

Tim Locastro is a Mets trade chip they need to be savvy with

The Mets aren’t going to get a notable prospect in exchange for Locastro. At best, some 27-year-old in Triple-A having a breakout year is what they could hope for. Maybe even a guy with a bum arm that was once held in high regard is a possibility. 

What we might see the Mets do instead is to trade Locastro for some international slot bonus money. Knowing they won’t get a particularly good prospect for a one-dimensional player like him, this seems like the smartest thing to do.

Locastro could always get packaged in a deal alongside one of the many other Mets trade chips. Currently on the IL where he has spent most of the year, he’s an appealing yet cheap player teams will want to add.

A club looking for even more speed (Tampa Bay Rays) or one looking to finally find some (Minnesota Twins) could end up as destinations for him. One thing they must consider is with Locastro’s presence on the 40-man roster and lack of minor league option, they’d have to be ready to have him as an active member of the 26-man roster once he returns from the IL—a convenient place he landed for the Mets who didn’t really have much of a role for him any more.