Mets on the Market: Trade Deadline Moves the Mets Must Consider Making
It’s time for the Mets to make moves and break it up. The Mets didn’t take a very aggressive approach this past off-season, which makes you wonder where Steve Cohen thinks the current state of his team is. They were in on players like Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and Juan Soto, but you never had the sense they were serious contenders for any of these players. Instead, they made smaller moves, by bringing in players like Sean Manea, and JD Martinez. While these players have not performed extremely poorly, they have not been enough to improve the Mets at least as we stand on May 29th, 2024. JD got a very late start to the season, and the team has struggled mightily with or without him.
Fransisco Lindor has had a very slow first two months of the season, and he has lost the fan base. Lindor is hitting .210 with an OBP of .277. His power numbers are respectable with 8 homers and 26 RBIs, but with the team losing, it is not nearly good enough to distract the fans from his atrocious approach at the plate this year.
The Mets are potentially running out of time to move on from Lindor and get the package they may want for him due to Lindor’s contract agreements. Lindor signed a 10-year 341-million-dollar contract with the Mets and had some very notable terms to the contract. Lindor negotiated a 15-team no-trade clause into the first 4 years of his contract (2021-2025). These 15 teams no no-trade clauses turn into a full no-trade clause from 2026-2031. With next year being the deadline to potentially move Lindor to 15 teams without him needing to approve, and Lindor losing the fan base, now is the perfect time for the Mets to move on and for Lindor to start fresh with a new organization.
The Polar Bear: Pete Alonso had Mets fans’ hearts when he first got to the majors, but now he does not.
The Mets were in talks with the Milwaukee Brewers last year at the trade deadline to potentially move Alonso, but the needle never moved. With Alonso yet to sign a new contract with the Mets, and the Mets struggling mightily, it would make a ton of sense for the Mets to move on from Alonso before the trade deadline.
Alonso would certainly gauge a lot of interest from first base needy teams, that are off to fast starts to start the year. A potential move with the Minnesota Twins, Boston Red Sox, and the San Fransisco Giants could make a lot of sense for all of the ball clubs.
Edwin Diaz: The best closer in baseball? Not anymore, Edwin Diaz has struggled mightily since his return from the World Baseball Classic injury that he suffered. Diaz has blown four saves this year while pitching to a 5.40 ERA and a 1.25 WHIP. With Diaz’s contract holding a potential opt-out after the 2025 season, the Mets should be trying to get value for players with bigger contracts like Diaz’s and set themselves up for a big offseason this upcoming winter.
The Mets can go all in on a rebuild and give the fans something to look forward to for the rest of the season. Playing high-potential young players like Mark Vientos, Brett Baty, Luisangel Acuna, and Drew Gilbert, can give the fans a reason to go to the ballpark in the present, while also setting themselves up to be very aggressive this offseason and pair already established veterans with homegrown stars.
NEW YORK, NY – JUNE 3: Francisco Lindor #12 of the New York Mets reacts after flying out during the seventh inning against the Toronto Blue Jays at Citi Field on June 3, 2023 in the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Adam Hunger/Getty Images)
