Low-profile Mets trade from the weekend could just be the first this week

The days leading up to Opening Day include plenty of roster changes. Among the ones made by the New York Mets this weekend was a trade. 

Pitcher Austin Adams was sent to the Oakland Athletics for cash considerations. Signed to a split contract in the offseason, he was DFA'd and removed from the 40-man roster well before spring training even began. He'll now have a more realistic chance to pitch for Oakland as he looks to take a roster spot from former Mets pitcher Trevor Gott.

Non-tendered early in the offseason by the Mets, Gott was a candidate to actually be the A's closer. Tommy John surgery had other plans. Gott will miss all of 2024. Looking for an additional veteran presence on the roster, the Athletics were willing to part with a stack of hundred dollar bills for Adams (at least that’s how I imagine it happening).

Who else could the Mets trade before Opening Day?

Already in DFA limbo, Phil Bickford is an obvious trade candidate. Bickford, unlike Gott, was tendered but after winning his arbitration case, won't make the Mets roster anyway. Sending him somewhere for cash considerations is a potential conclusion to his Mets tenure.

Also on the trade block, we find Yohan Ramirez or Sean Reid-Foley. Only one can make the Mets roster. Both came to the Mets originally through a trade themselves. Ramirez was acquired for cash considerations this offseason. Reid-Foley, an addition from the Steven Matz trade prior to 2021, has already returned to the team in the past on a minor league deal. Each has been impressive this spring. The Mets would surely like to keep both, but rather than lose either for nothing on waivers, we can expect a possible trade.

Beyond the 40-man roster, many of those non-prospects are about equally as likely to get dealt. We’ve seen David Stearns in action this winter freely trade away players who were new additions. Adams is just the latest in a line of guys who were either signed or claimed then dealt away.

Perhaps a bit bigger than some of these potential trades is one that would include an acquisition. The Mets haven’t named DJ Stewart to the roster yet. Could an upgrade be out there? He probably won't get dealt, but acquiring someone viewed as a better option could pop up in trade discussions or free agency.