The Mets were wise to pass on the price of a Trey Mancini trade

A New York Mets trade target is now off the board, as the Baltimore Orioles traded Trey Mancini to the Houston Astros as part of a three-team trade with the Tampa Bay Rays. The Orioles received Chayce McDermott (Houston’s No. 12 prospect according to MLB.com) and Seth Johnson (Tampa’s No. 6 prospect) in return, with Jose Siri going to the Rays and Jayden Murray on his way to Houston in the three-team, five-player move. 

But how would the Mets have fared if they gave up a package similar to what Baltimore got back from the Rays and Astros? Probably better in keeping the prospects, as per Steve Cohen’s emphasis on the farm. 

Trey Mancini was a rental situation, so it made sense the Mets didn't move top prospects to acquire his services. 

As a team that is looking at a right-handed power bat, that is a tough pill to swallow. But, this should not leave the Mets hopeless as to finding another bat. The Orioles got two quality prospects in return, and even Fangraphs had Seth Johnson as a top 100 prospect earlier this season. Now, it’ll take a minute for Johnson to reach the big leagues as he is having Tommy John surgery this week. McDermott has above average stuff as well. 

The Orioles did well in the package they received for their most expendable trade chip. As much as it stinks for Orioles fans that a fan favorite was dealt, they were not competing with the Yankees or Astros in the playoffs, and they lengthened their farm system for a better future. 

If the Mets were to trade their No. 6 and No. 12 prospects for Mancini, according to MLB.com's Mets prospect list, it would have meant Matt Allan and Jose Butto would have been traded, and given that the Mets are much thinner at pitching depth in the minors, not trading for Mancini was the right call. Even it was just one top prospect, like Ronny Mauricio, it would not have made sense either. There were better options where giving up Ronny Mauricio is worth it then Mancini.

This also allows the Mets to focus on a potential deal that brings J.D. Martinez to Queens. Martinez is a menacing force against left-handed pitching, something the Mets need to match up well with opposing southpaws should they face them in October. 

You also can’t trade any of your top prospects for a rental. Hopefully, the Mets learned from their mistake last year when they gave away Pete Crow-Armstrong to the Cubs for two months of Javier Baez, whom the Mets let walk in free agency.