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.

NY Mets will regret not trading Darin Ruf even for scraps

It’s very hard to see Darin Ruf staying with the Mets for the full season. Why didn’t the Mets trade him? Nobody probably was willing to give up even a low-level prospect contemplating retirement. The Mets would have had to eat a part of his salary. Ruf was so awful for the Mets last year that even for free he’d have a tough time finding a major league job.

Holding onto Ruf and seeing what he can offer the Mets this year isn’t criminal. When there are no takers, what else can you do other than cut bait? The problem arises when we see how the Mets may not be able to enter Opening Day with their 26 best players. Brett Baty, a guy who can play third base and left field, is a far better fit for the Mets than Ruf whose duties include being a part-time DH, first baseman, and right fielder.

The Mets need Ruf even less now with the presence of Tommy Pham. A far better choice to platoon with Daniel Vogelbach if only because he’s something different, Pham’s defensive positions are less limiting than Ruf. 

I’m all for Ruf proving everyone wrong. However, having him on the Opening Day roster means a more useful player doesn’t. His time with the Mets feels like it’s going to come to a close sooner than later. Eppler may lose him for nothing.

NY Mets can still make the most of a Mark Vientos trade later on this summer

Mark Vientos remains the most practical trade chip the Mets have. Where do you even play him? Constructing a future Mets roster where all of the prospects pan out doesn’t even include him.

As much as it makes sense to trade Vientos, we should be glad the Mets didn’t. What kind of upgrade could they have made this offseason in a trade centered on him? Instead, heading into the 2023 season with him in the organization means the Mets have a pretty solid piece to deal at the deadline for an unexpected need.

This does come with some risk. What if Vientos struggles a lot this year? His stock will go down a ton. It’s already not too high because he does seem to be trending toward becoming a first baseman. Guys who play that position and hit with power grow on trees. They’re easy to find and trading away something of value for one doesn’t always make the most sense.

Vientos can do the complete opposite. What if he has a monstrous season in Triple-A? What if he even becomes a contributor at the major league level? A big injury or an underperformer gives the team urgency to look at some different trade scenarios. Any club in a rebuilding mode who could use a first baseman or DH could nibble.

We should be glad the Mets didn’t force any trade this offseason. Eventually, they’ll probably have to deal him.

NY Mets have officially lost the Khalil Lee trade

Khalil Lee came over to the Mets prior to the 2021 season and things didn’t go well on the field. Domestic abuse allegations against him this spring make this even worse. He was designated for assignment by the club shortly after. Because he did pass through waivers, Lee remains with the organization but no longer on the 40-man roster.

Lee’s struggles last year definitely did a number on his trade stock. Following an impressive season in Triple-A back in 2021, he followed it up with a .214/.330/.370 performance last year. Lee struck out 150 times in only 453 plate appearances on the farm. As a non-power hitter, it’s hard to overlook as a major weakness in his game.

Mets fans got a look at him in the majors back in 2021 when he fanned in 13 of his 18 chances. Still 24, he could’ve been someone the team flipped this offseason for another guy in a similar spot. The allegations against him have made him untradeable at the moment. Until we get answers, it looks like he’ll remain with the Mets with his future in limbo.

If found guilty, Lee’s professional career would be over. Major League Baseball has started to take these things seriously. There is no second-chance in a situation like this.