3 players we’ll be thankful Billy Eppler didn’t trade, 2 we’ll wish he did

This offseason wasn’t an active one for the New York Mets on the trade front. Outside of acquiring Brooks Raley from the Tampa Bay Rays, none of the players the team brought in via trade are guaranteed a roster spot. They did dispose of James McCann, but that was a player dump.

The Mets chose to spend in free agency instead of subtract from the farm system. Despite plenty of offseason Mets rumors about potential trades, the team never budged.

During the 2023 season, we’ll be glad Billy Eppler didn’t trade these three players. Meanwhile, we’re already wishing he did deal these ones away.

NY Mets will benefit from the depth Carlos Carrasco gives the rotation

Carlos Carrasco was somewhat of a surprising trade candidate on the Mets roster this offseason. There was a point when the rotation was only him and Max Scherzer. It didn’t last long. By the time December was over, the rotation had been completely overhauled with Carrasco returning.

Is Carrasco going to dazzle anyone this year? If he’s anything like he was in 2022, we’ll be thankful enough.

Cookie turned things around completely last season from the horrific 12 starts he made in 2021. He was 15-7 with a 3.97 ERA in 29 starts spanning 152 innings. It wasn’t ace material nor did anyone expect that kind of output from him last year. A repeat of last year’s performance will be more than satisfying.

One equally as important part of this equation is how Carrasco allows the Mets to carry Tylor Megill and David Peterson as sixth and seventh starters. We’re seeing starting pitchers around the league already going down with injuries. Knowing the Mets have plenty of players they can turn to for those starter frames will pay off.