3 small Mets trades we can realistically expect before Opening Day

2) The Mets trade Phil Bickford somewhere for a 26-year-old prospect in Double-A

Phil Bickford is the one player the Mets didn’t avoid arbitration with. Although they could always come to a deal before the deadline, the difference of only $85K seems to suggest the Mets aren’t so keen on him. Bickford asked for $900K. The Mets offered $815K.

It was already somewhat of a surprise for the Mets to tender him a deal. They passed on several others. Bickford, who may have been kept around for some depth in the bullpen, is more expendable than ever. He’s one of the players on the 40-man roster without options whom the Mets may prefer to simply replace with a pitcher they can demote as needed.

The Mets wouldn’t get much at all for Bickford in a trade. What about a 26-year-old in Double-A looking to change positions? Something of this ilk is about all we could conceivably hope to receive in exchange for a pitcher who has bounced around the leagues already in his relatively young career.

If he somehow did make it onto the Opening Day roster, Bickford would be one of the first DFA candidates of the regular season. He’s no stranger to it nor is David Stearns who already released him back when each was employed by the Milwaukee Brewers.