If Mets trade deadline strategy works, other teams will have a lot to think about

The New York Mets didn’t land any star players at the trade deadline. They, instead, had to pay a little more in at least two of the deals they did make.

Daniel Vogelbach for Colin Holderman definitely rubbed a lot of fans wrong but it’s turning out pretty well—at least so far. The bigger overpay was landing Darin Ruf in exchange for J.D. Davis and three minor leaguers. Who wins this deal has yet to be determined but one could argue the San Francisco Giants weren’t making this deal without a Ruf replacement and some other pieces involved, too.

The Mets have a target on their back because of the power the owner’s wealth possesses. Steve Cohen is the best tool the organization has yet also one of the reasons why making trades will be tough.

Mets trade deadline strategy was different this year and now we have to wait if it works

Trade deadline deals are weird. Sometimes they look like they’re utterly one-sided and involve teams making a deal for the sake of getting rid of a player. Other times, it’s understandable why each club agreed to the move. One club gets a player to help them now. The other guys get people who can help them in the future.

The Mets trade deadline was all about the now with a subtle hug for the future. They didn’t unload a top prospect like Pete Crow-Armstrong for a few months of a star, like Javier Baez. This year’s moves they made were more “classic trade deadline” than the flashy headline-grabbing, social media-reacting transactions.

That deal didn’t work last year. But a similar one for this year’s team could have. Under Cohen, teams have been willing to do business with the Mets. That’s how they’ve added Francisco Lindor, Carlos Carrasco, and Chris Bassitt through trades. Not everyone is afraid to make a deal with New York.

But other clubs may be less tempted. The Chicago Cubs got a taste of what they could acquire from the Mets and seemingly didn’t want anything less than what they got from them last year. We can assume the Boston Red Sox, who will be looking to retool rather than rebuild, felt the same away over the last few weeks which is why none of their players ended up in Flushing.

Other teams prevented the Mets from getting any of the huge additions they could have used. Some caved in and helped them out anyway. What happens if it works?

The Mets will absolutely need to focus far more on free agents and properly developing players. It might be that combination that led to them holding onto prospects. Someone in Mets management is self-aware enough to realize they may need to do it all on their own with the occasional favor that’ll still have a price.

The Mets will be mighty for years to come. Their power only gets better if someway, somehow this lighter trade deadline ends up helping them win a World Series. What are teams going to do then?