3 Mets trade targets who move up the wish list with Corbin Burnes possibly off the block

The New York Mets are set up for another eventful offseason as they look to rebound from arguably the most disappointing season in franchise history. The Mets have money to spend and prospects to potentially move after clearing out some money and loading up the farm at the deadline.

One player that made a ton of sense as a potential Mets trade candidate was Corbin Burnes who is set to hit free agency after the 2024 season. It feels very unlikely that the small-market Brewers will be able to re-sign him, especially after their arbitration process last offseason, so getting something for their ace made some sort of sense.

Milwaukee now could be taking Burnes off the market entirely due to the injury to fellow right-hander Brandon Woodruff. Milwaukee's number two starter will be out for most, if not the entire 2024 season which is a huge blow not only for himself but for this Brewers team that wanted one more chance to compete before Burnes hit free agency. Milwaukee still had the chance to do that even if they traded Burnes as long as they had Brandon Woodruff and Freddy Peralta healthy. Now, since Woodruff is out, a Burnes trade feels like a long shot. The Mets would have to completely overwhelm them.

1) Tyler Glasnow

The Tampa Bay Rays find themselves in the same situation the Brewers are in with Corbin Burnes. They're a team trying to compete, but Glasnow is headed to the final year of his contract before he hits free agency and with the Rays being the small market team they are, the chances of them giving him an expensive long-term deal are slim.

There aren't any rumors going around that suggest Glasnow is going to be traded, but there's precidence with the Rays making a move like this. They traded Blake Snell the year after they won the AL Pennant, largely because of the money he was set to be owed.

If Glasnow is indeed available, the Mets making a risky trade to acquire him shouldn't be out of the question. When healthy he's an elite pitcher, but the right-hander simply hasn't been able to remain healthy enough to be considered reliable.

Glasnow just set career-highs in his eighth season by making 21 starts and throwing 120 innings for the Rays. That's not including the one start and five innings he delivered in the postseason. He missed time due to injury, but Glasnow being somewhat healthy this past season could give the Mets some hope that he'll be closer to making 25=30 starts next season at least.

In those 21 starts, Glasnow posted a 3.53 ERA, striking out 162 batters compared to 37 walks. He had a 2.91 FIP and a really solid 1.083 WHIP. He pitched like the ace he's dubbed to be, and really always has. It's all about health.

The health concerns and the fact that Glasnow is going to hit free agency after the 2024 season could make the price low enough for David Stearns to pounce. He'd be a massive upgrade instantly.

2) Juan Soto

If Corbin Burnes was priority one, Juan Soto is 1B. He's another player set to hit free agency at the end of the year, and with the Padres looking to lessen their payroll, there's a good chance they don't retain him past the 2024 season. If they don't plan on paying him the massive contract he's going to get, they might as well trade him.

Coming up with a mock trade to acquire Soto isn't easy. The Mets won't want to give a ton up for a guy who could be a rental, but it's Juan Soto. That's a guy you can pencil in right in the middle of the lineup and expect to be one of the best hitters in baseball. He's a guy who always seems to shine on the big stage, so having him play in New York City every night could get him to be the best version of himself that we've seen.

The Padres will have tons of suitors lining up to at the very least inquire regarding Soto's availabilty, and I fully expect the Mets to be among them. They've got the prospects to get a deal done, it all comes down to how far they're willing to go and if San Diego actually entertains moving him. They've got the space in their lineup for him, and he'd certainly help them compete for the postseason spot that eluded them in 2023.

Burnes is the best pitcher that could be available for the Mets to acquire, and Soto is likely the best hitter that they can make a trade for. If Burnes isn't available, the Mets turning all of their attention to Soto wouldn't be surprising.