3 NY Mets trades we would already like to see the team get done

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The teams competing cannot sleep to wait as the market operates, they must be aggressive in always trying to improve, and the New York Mets are one of those teams. Filled with uncertainty, injuries, and underperformance, the Mets have two areas they must try to improve.

The rotation has held its casualties with injuries to Jose Quintana and Justin Verlander. The bullpen without Edwin Diaz and other acquisitions that haven't panned out highlight the need for more options for mid and high-leverage situations.

The Mets should acquire a high-impact mid-cost starter

There are many starting pitchers that will soon be available on the market. Among them, some aces would be drawing the attention of most teams. Even pitchers from potential contending teams like Tyler Glasnow or Shane Bieber could appear on the trading block.

Among some, Lucas Giolito is a pitcher who could be a good target for the Mets because of his potential and cost. Giolito is in his last year of a contract and has started 2023 slowly.

Giolito was a top prospect from the Washington Nationals who came to the Chicago White Sox in the trade that brought Adam Eaton to the Nats. The White Sox ace had a couple of good seasons where he was selected as an All-Star 3 times.

His value since 2022 has dipped due to so-so performance on the mound and losing years of control after nearing his arbitration term. This 2023 his initial value is low due to having a high ERA and WHIP. This is something that stands out because Giolito has been a pitcher with great control in his career.

His problem has been the contact allowed, being highly affected by the banned shift since the opponent put the ball in play, the result ends up being more hits than outs. That shows in his numbers allowing twice as many hits as innings pitched.

However, his ability to induce strikeouts and low contact throughout his career remains valid. With the injury-plagued and underperforming White Sox, Lucas Giolito could be available soon and would be a boost to a healthy rotation where he would be a fourth starter. The cost to acquire it would not be high, hovering around perhaps two mid-top prospects within the top 10 to top 20.

The Mets should target an in-division bullpen arm

After Edwin Diaz left the bullpen due to injury, the Mets have had to turn to David Robertson, Adam Ottavino, and Brooks Raley as their arms in high-leverage situations. These pitchers have been doing the work but because of their age, the workload can affect their performance and health throughout the season.

Among the options that the market can present is Dylan Floro. The Miami Marlins closer is a safe bet to be in the trading block soon because the Marlins would not be competing in 2023 and he is in his last year of the contract.

The Marlins have not shown themselves as a team with an impediment to making trades with teams in their division, especially with the Mets, who have benefited from trades with the Miami team over the past few decades. Additionally, Floro would enter the market at 33, making him a candidate not to be extended by the Marlins, who instead acquired A.J. Puk this offseason as a future option as a closer.

Dylan Floro is an under-the-radar bullpen arm. His repertoire induces a low amount of hard-hit contact, which favors a favorable outcome for the pitcher. Floro benefits from a sinker pitch that induces a considerable amount of ground ball, something the Mets are very good at handling in the infield.

As a relatively old reliever and in his final year of the contract, Dylan Floro would be low-cost and could make an impact in the Mets bullpen. A prospect within the top 20 of the organization could be enough to get the services of this pitcher or be able to add another prospect outside the top 30 with an upside.

The Mets should call on the Kansas City Royals to acquire the services of a well-known arm in New York City

One relief pitcher who was widely ignored in free agency this past offseason was Aroldis Chapman. "The Cuban Missile" as he is known came from a few regular years with the New York Yankees due specifically to his control.

Chapman has been a flame thrower pitcher throughout his career who induces a lot of strikeouts and little contact, but in the last two years, he had had walk problems allowing about seven per nine innings. However, at the age of 35, Kansas City awarded him a contract of $3,750,000 for one year with the aim of obtaining a good reliever to help them during the year or as a trade chip if they do not compete.

Chapman has started the year well, striking out more than half the hitters he faces while allowing a ratio of fewer than two walks per nine innings. The opposition is hitting under .200 and their fastball and sinker are averaging 100 mph.

Chapman looks like a good option to return to New York to demonstrate his great arsenal and speed. On a team with older bullpen pitchers, Chapman can emerge as a bullpen arm for high-leverage situations and a big threat against lefties.

The cost to acquire Aroldis Chapman would not be high due to his one-year contract. One or two prospects from the Mets organization's top 20-30 could be enough to acquire an arm with potentially high impact and experience like this lefty Cuban pitcher.

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