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3 trade targets for the Mets if the Padres decide to blow it up first

The Padres might be looking to sell at the deadline. Should the Mets take advantage?

By Matthew Franco |
Wild Card Series - San Diego Padres v New York Mets - Game Two
Wild Card Series - San Diego Padres v New York Mets - Game Two / Dustin Satloff/GettyImages
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Not even halfway through the 2023 regular season, two of the biggest payrolls in baseball may be already hitting the panic button. The New York Mets have struggled all season long, but the San Diego Padres haven't been far behind. After acquiring superstars all offseason, the Padres are 37-44 following a sweep to the Pittsburgh Pirates.

While a Wild Card spot remains a possibility, some insiders are already predicting the Padres to potentially sell at the deadline. With so much money on the books and a massive Juan Soto extension looming, San Diego might look to save wherever possible.

Meanwhile, the Mets and Steve Cohen have yet to full commit to a strategy ahead of the trade deadline. If the Padres do end up as sellers and the Mets choose to stick it out and buy, these three players should be early trade targets to bring to New York.

Blake Snell would provide much needed help for the Mets rotation

It's not often that a former Cy Young winner finds themselves on the trade block, but Blake Snell has emerged as a popular trade candidate should the Padres choose to blow it up.

On the surface, it's not hard to understand why the Padres would shop Snell. He has yet to recapture his elite form, with a 3.64 ERA across three season in San Diego. More importantly, he is set to be an unrestricted free agent following the 2023 season. The Padres would be much better off spending that money on Juan Soto instead of resigning the 30 year old pitcher.

Snell would be a massive upgrade to the Mets rotation. Outside of an injured Jose Quintana and unproven David Peterson, the Mets have no left handed starting pitching. He would slide into the #4 slot in the rotation and bring some much needed success and depth to a rotation that lacks both.

Through his first 16 starts, Snell owns a 3.21 ERA, which is his lowest since he won the Cy Young award. He has improved across the board from previous season, and appears to be heading up at the right time.

Given that this trade would most likely be a rental, Mets fans might be hesitant giving up prospects for half a season of Blake Snell. Regardless, if the team is looking to buy at the deadline to save some jobs, Snell would arguably be one of the best starting pitchers on the market.

The Mets should have interest in bringing a familiar face back to Queens from the Padres

Seth Lugo initially left the Mets because he was unlikely to be used as a starting pitcher in a deep Mets rotation. In this scenario, the Mets would trade for Lugo out of desperation in that same spot.

Since departing the Big Apple, Lugo has found success with San Diego. He carries a 4.01 ERA with an impressive 8.2 SO/9 ratio as well. While he hasn't always been the most efficient, Lugo has been a reliable 5th starter for the Padres all season.

That end of the rotation depth is exactly what the Mets are missing this season. That role was supposed to belong to Carlos Carrasco, who has struggled mightily so far with a 6.19 ERA over the past ten starts. Tylor Megill fizzled out as well, having recently been demoted to Triple A following a few rough starts. The fifth rotation spot is wide open for the Mets, who desperately need rotational help to avoid losing any more games.

If New York had a chance to turn back time, many fans would be sure to pay Lugo and guarantee him a starting job. Instead, the team should look towards reacquiring the long time Met should the Padres decide to sell, and he can lock down that 5th starter role for the next two seasons.

While highly unlikely, the Mets should at least make an offer for this Padres star

When Josh Hader was traded two seasons ago, the Mets were listed as one of the teams heavily linked to the closer before he was traded to the San Diego Padres. Now, they might have another chance to get him back.

After struggling his first year in San Diego, Hader has seemingly returned to form in 2023. He has a blistering 1.26 ERA through 30 appearances, locking down 18 saves and reestablishing himself as one of the most dominant closers across the league.

If the Padres do decide to sell, Hader would once again become highly sought after by just about every team. San Diego would potentially trade Hader for the same reason they would Snell: both of these players are unrestricted free agents after this season.

For the Mets, trading for Hader at the right price would be a no brainer. The bullpen has been a struggle all year, with multiple options being used to no avail. This trade would almost certainly kick David Robertson out of the closer role, which might anger some fans given how elite he has been in that role. However, that extra depth would allow Buck Showalter a lot more flexibility with his bullpen, which has been lacking all season.

Hader would all but certainly leave in the offseason, but if the Mets are serious about a playoff push, they shouldn't hesitate to make an offer. Plus, in the event that Hader somehow re-signs with the Mets, the possibility of both him and Edwin Diaz in the same bullpen is enough to bring a tear to a fans eye.

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