3 dumbest NY Mets trade deadline decisions Billy Eppler could make this month

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With the trade deadline right around the corner, the New York Mets are going to have to face the music sooner rather than later in regard to whether they are going to be buyers or sellers at the deadline. As it currently stands the only realistic shot the Mets have at the postseason is by grabbing one of the National League Wild Card spots as they are absolutely buried at the bottom of the National League East race.

Whether the Mets buy or sell at the deadline, there are a few moves that General Manager Billy Eppler would be ill-advised to make. There are a few players the Mets could sell off who are scheduled to be free agents at the end of the year such as David Robertson, Tommy Pham, and Mark Canha. But at the same time, there are also deals they need to think heavily about in terms of not only this year's roster but next year's team as well.

1) First bad NY Mets trade: Giving up assets for Shohei Ohtani

It's becoming more and more likely that the Los Angeles Angels may become sellers at the trade deadline with the recent rash of injuries and the team quickly falling below .500 in the month of July. If the Angels truly believe they are out of the race, Shohei Ohtani may be one of the biggest trade chips at the deadline in baseball history.

Unfortunately for the Mets, they are not in a position where Shohei Ohtani could put them over the top this season. There are so many players underperforming on this roster which has led to their disappointing record, and with Ohtani scheduled to be a free agent this offseason, there is no guarantee that he returns to Queens if the Mets dealt for him.

If the Mets were to trade for Ohtani they would most likely have to deal a significant part of their farm system and possibly a player on the Major League roster for the deal to make sense for the Angels. I believe the Mets could ill-afford to part with young talent on one of the oldest rosters in the league, especially when Owner Steve Cohen's goal was to rebuild the farm system.

The Mets would be better served to write Ohtani a blank check this winter rather than trade for his services this summer.

2) Second bad NY Mets trade: Trading Max Scherzer or Justin Verlander

I know that both Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander have not produced the results that all Mets fans were expecting when they were signed to record-setting deals in consecutive off-seasons. However, if the Mets ultimately end up selling pieces at the deadline, this is still a team that has the talent and pockets to compete in 2024.

The Mets' pitching depth has been pushed to the brink this season and if the Mets were to trade one of their top two starters that will only make their starting depth that much more of an issue over the final two months of the season. It also puts the Mets back at square one next offseason in trying to find another top-of-the-rotation starter.

The Mets most likely won't get anything of significant value in return unless they pick up most, if not all, of either starting pitcher's bloated contract. At the same time would it make sense to pay one of these pitchers over $40 million to pitch for a team you may be contending against the rest of this season and potentially next season?

I believe the Mets should stay pat on the Scherzer and Verlander front, and if they want to move on from either pitcher, they can find a deal as well as a replacement that makes sense this winter.

3) Third bad NY Mets trade: Trading any of their top prospects

As previously mentioned earlier, one of Steve Cohen's goals for this organization was rebuilding a barren farm system when he took over ownership. The Mets would be foolish to give up any of their top young talent at this year's trade deadline with the way the team has performed this season.

It would better serve the Mets to take a look at some of the young talent they have down in the minors up at the Major League level such as Mark Vientos and Ronny Mauricio. Whether the Mets right the ship or not, it's hard not to argue how much either player could be an upgrade right now offensively in Queens.

The front office has to evaluate players such as Vientos and Mauricio at some point this season in order to figure out whether they can potentially play a role on next season's roster or not. The front office has to figure out a way to inject a bit of youth into this aging roster whether it be this season or next.

The Mets can ill-afford to make deadline mistakes such as the ones they made last season when they made trades for players like Darin Ruf, Tyler Naquin, and Daniel Vogelbach where significant young pieces were given up for career journeymen players. If Billy Eppler were to fumble any of their top prospects this summer his seat will be scorching hot as the winter approaches.

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