3 stars not named Juan Soto to target in future trades

The New York Mets expressed interest in Juan Soto but I think it was pretty clear from the start that there was virtually no chance the Washington Nationals trade a future Hall of Famer inside the division. Soto is 23 and already one of the five best players in the sport, so watching him taunt you and potentially win multiple World Series championships in Queens is not something Nationals General Manager Mike Rizzo wants to do.

While losing out on Soto is unfortunate, there are plenty of other great players the Mets can trade the farm for in their attempt to win.

The Mets have the high end prospects like Francisco Alvarez, Brett Baty, Ronny Mauricio, and Alex Ramirez to get virtually any trade done, and it'll be easier to do so when not dealing with a division rival.

1) NY Mets superstar trade target: Shohei Ohtani

Shohei Ohtani is the most obvious name to come onto this list. The Angels reportedly listened to offers on Ohtani prior to the deadline, and will likely move him eventually. They're going to miss the playoffs once again and with the Japanese phenom approaching free agency, they're going to want to get value for him before potentially losing him next offseason.

Ohtani is a guy who would fit seamlessly onto this team. The Mets could potentially be losing Jacob deGrom, Chris Bassitt, Taijuan Walker, and Carlos Carrasco this offseason. The need for another starter is clear, and Ohtani is one of the best in the game in that regard.

Obviously, Ohtani is not just a pitcher. He can hit in the middle of the order and give the Mets MVP production at the plate as well. Imagine Shohei Ohtani hitting right in front of Pete Alonso...

The package to land Ohtani would be large, but he's the kind of player worth moving the farm for. With only one year left on his deal, the Mets might even be able to get by without moving top prospect Francisco Alvarez.

The Mets would be landing the most popular and valuable player in the game. Nobody has ever done what Ohtani can do and nobody will ever do this again. It'd be a lot easier to appreciate everything Ohtani has done and will continue to do by watching him in blue and orange at 7:10 every night.