3 Mets trade deadline predictions one month before the clock strikes 6pm

2) The Mets will trade Jose Quintana and pay only half of his remaining salary

The Mets will subtract from the roster at the trade deadline. Recent speculation about them trading a starter will come to pass. It’ll be Jose Quintana they execute from the starting rotation.

In the eyes of some fans, Quintana and Sean Manaea are probably about level. The only difference is Manaea seems to have the greater upside. In a big game, Manaea feels more likely to get out of a jam by striking out the side—albeit after walking the bases loaded—than Quintana would. As an inherited player, Quintana has that strike against him, too.

Trading a starting pitcher might not have much to do with improving the current roster. It’s about subtraction in order to clear a spot for Christian Scott and/or Jose Butto. Let’s not forget Kodai Senga who’ll be promoted as “like adding a player at the trade deadline” whenever he finally does throw his first pitch for the Mets.

When the Mets do trade Quintana, they’ll pick up about half of his remaining salary. That’ll be around $3 million. It’ll give them a little more wiggle room to make the additions they do make. Unfortunately, this year’s Mets team is on a financial constraint and we shouldn’t expect this to change even if a playoff berth is there for them to take.