3 small yet smart Mets trade targets the team should consider this offseason

2. Luke Little, Chicago Cubs

If the Cubs want to make a trade with the Mets, maybe they should start smaller than Pete Alonso. Drafted in the 4th round of the 2020 draft from Charlotte, North Carolina, Luke Little has a reputation as a hard-throwing left-hander with a knack for getting ground balls. Across 3 minor league seasons, Little had a 2.50 ERA in 140.1 innings pitched with a whopping 225 strikeouts. He made his major league debut this past September, where he pitched 6.2 scoreless innings with 4 walks and 12 strikeouts.

Little is one of the hardest throwing left-handers baseball has ever seen, averaging almost 99 MPH on his fastball. His low-80’s slider is a great compliment keeping batters off balance and its sweeping action records a lot of strikeouts against left-handed hitters. Little’s biggest drawback is his control, as he walked 85 in 140.1 minor-league innings. He is still developing a split-changeup, which was used as the reason for his high walk rate.

The Mets should explore a trade for Little as he is only the 25th-ranked Cubs prospect according to MLB Pipeline. This means a low-level or two prospects from the Mets could entice the Cubs. As with Saalfrank, Little has options to the minor leagues in the event he needs to restructure his command. Lacking hard throwers in the bullpen, the Mets could have a complimentary piece to pair with the soft-tossing Raley should they consider Little as an option.