Steven, I’d move Blackburn for a bullpen arm. When Manaea comes back, and you have Senga, Manaea, Holmes, Peterson, Montas, and Megill, you can trade Canning also. I say that because Tidwell, McLean, and Sprout should be ready by then.
I know it’s unpopular trading away starters, but both of these guys are similar “innings eaters” without being guys that you feel good about against a top team.
No problem moving Blackburn who has already exceeded the back of his baseball card. Not sure what they can get for him. But that's why I discussed some starters who the Mets could ply away from some teams sinking into the abyss. With Senga you never know how long he will be out and Holmes may hit a wall with innings. Still like Mullins to play OF.
I think McNeil is an extremely talented defender at a number of positions. I do believe he lacks the range of a very good defensive centerfielder, and certainly does not have the optimal arm either. He is a much better replacement at a corner outfield position as needed, but he has also done a decent job in centerfield.
The Tyrone Taylor is just a backup talk needs to end. Not every position needs to boast an all star. He's a solid player who impacts the game in a positive way on almost a nightly basis. I'll take his league average offensive production and good speed on the bases with elite defense over the untapped potential and 15 million for Luis Robert.
Now if you want to go get me Byron Buxton, I'm all ears.
Buxton would be a great addition and at $15 million is almost a bargain. There was talk on line about the Mets sending Nolan McLean and Eli Serrano to the O's for Cedric Mullins. If Mullins wasnt a rental I'd pull the trigger but it's too high a price to pay.
Am not in favor of trading away amy of our top 3 starting pitcher prospects - McLean, Tong, Sproat - for marginal upgrades at best. Mullins is good but not sure he moves the needle enough.
Not enthusiastic about any of these players. I think Mullins fits the Mets needs best but isn't terribly exciting to me. We should not be looking to make a trade just to make one. Here are some teams and targets I see:
Boston: Jarren Duran (Would probably cost "Top Prospect") and Aroldis Chapman
Baltimore: Cedric Mullins
Kansas City: Seth Lugo
Chicago AL: Nobody
Texas: Jacob deGrom (Expensive)
Los Angeles AL: Nobody
Athletics: Nobody
Atlanta (Good Luck): Chris Sale (if not Atlanta this would work great)
Washington: Nobody
Miami: Sandy Alcantra (Risky. Miami will still want the hauls they were envisioning before the season and the Mets couldn't offer that but if Miami was willing to take a lesser package...)
Pittsburgh: Andrew Heaney (Not high on my list), Paul Skenes (for a fortune)
Cincinnati: Nobody
St. Louis: Nobody
Arizona: Eugenio Suarez (only if the Mets were trading one of their 3B options in the deal), Zac Gallen
Colorado: Nobody
Not Sellers Yet:
Toronto: George Springer, Chris Bassitt, Bo Bichette (Figure out where to play him)
Minnesota: Byron Buxton
Seattle: J.P. Crawford (Figure out where to play him)
You say no one from Cincy but the player I’d most like to get is on the Reds - Hunter Greene. He’s young, has a combined 162 ERA+ since the start of 2024 and is signed on a very team-friendly deal that goes thru 2028 with a team option for 2029.
Looking strictly at what their needs are on the MLB roster now - and it’s possible they have answers there in the minors - they need 1B, 2B, 3B and RF. I’m sure they’d want pitching back, too. I’d offer Mauricio, Acuna, McLean and Megill - and expect that they’d want more.
They don't need a third baseman. Blackburn, Robertson, Holmes, Canning and a minor leaguer should suffice once and then Montas will be finished his rehab. Manaea is in rehab start. A left-handed reliever better than Castillo would be nice but the few aren't a significant upgrade. Raley has started his rehab so be patient. Cedric Mullins as a rental fits but if he is available the he will a steep price that I won't want to pay. I'm satisfied with Taylor and McNeil.
They don’t need an externally sourced 3B but they need someone to step up. We all thought Vientos was locked in but he’s regressed offensively and defensively. Baty is as erratic as ever and Mauricio hasn’t impressed. I would not want to trade for a veteran 3B or even a rental necessarily. I hate to second guess, but Iglesias on the roster would be nice right about now.
I pretty much look at the list and, outside of Skenes (Dave's list), I don't think any of these players actually make the Mets significantly better. It's hard to jostle a team around that's boasting the best record in the MLB (depending on the night). You could argue that third base could improve...but I'd want a guy like Bregman. Arenado is an improvement defensively but provides very little offensively and eats up that position for another two years. Tough to swallow blocking Baty and Mauricio. And Taylor has played a fine CF. Why take a flyer on guys that have stink for the last two seasons (Robert Jr)? Mets fans are always quick to want to trade guys who are slumping away (McNeil, Marte, Vientos)... Why would we assume we'd be patient with a Robert Jr if he came and was the same guy he's been? I'll bet Stearns nibbles around the edges but doesn't make any big splash.
Two articles in one day! Sorry I don't like any of these trade targets.
No argument from me. Just trying to start the conversation.
Please, please, please don’t bring Arenado to the Mets.
Steven, I’d move Blackburn for a bullpen arm. When Manaea comes back, and you have Senga, Manaea, Holmes, Peterson, Montas, and Megill, you can trade Canning also. I say that because Tidwell, McLean, and Sprout should be ready by then.
I know it’s unpopular trading away starters, but both of these guys are similar “innings eaters” without being guys that you feel good about against a top team.
No problem moving Blackburn who has already exceeded the back of his baseball card. Not sure what they can get for him. But that's why I discussed some starters who the Mets could ply away from some teams sinking into the abyss. With Senga you never know how long he will be out and Holmes may hit a wall with innings. Still like Mullins to play OF.
I think Mullins and Taylor as a tandem beats Taylor and Siri as a tandem. But, what’s your opinion of McNeal in the overall equation, including CF?
I think McNeil is an extremely talented defender at a number of positions. I do believe he lacks the range of a very good defensive centerfielder, and certainly does not have the optimal arm either. He is a much better replacement at a corner outfield position as needed, but he has also done a decent job in centerfield.
I’d trade Megill before I’d trade Canning. Megill’s IL stint doesn’t influence my opinion here, for what it’s worth.
The Tyrone Taylor is just a backup talk needs to end. Not every position needs to boast an all star. He's a solid player who impacts the game in a positive way on almost a nightly basis. I'll take his league average offensive production and good speed on the bases with elite defense over the untapped potential and 15 million for Luis Robert.
Now if you want to go get me Byron Buxton, I'm all ears.
Buxton would be a great addition and at $15 million is almost a bargain. There was talk on line about the Mets sending Nolan McLean and Eli Serrano to the O's for Cedric Mullins. If Mullins wasnt a rental I'd pull the trigger but it's too high a price to pay.
Am not in favor of trading away amy of our top 3 starting pitcher prospects - McLean, Tong, Sproat - for marginal upgrades at best. Mullins is good but not sure he moves the needle enough.
And can't move any top prospect for a rental unless they are blocked at the MLB level and they have no future on the team.
Jett Williams, Carson Benge, Nolan McLean and Jonah Tong are not on the table for a rental.
Not enthusiastic about any of these players. I think Mullins fits the Mets needs best but isn't terribly exciting to me. We should not be looking to make a trade just to make one. Here are some teams and targets I see:
Boston: Jarren Duran (Would probably cost "Top Prospect") and Aroldis Chapman
Baltimore: Cedric Mullins
Kansas City: Seth Lugo
Chicago AL: Nobody
Texas: Jacob deGrom (Expensive)
Los Angeles AL: Nobody
Athletics: Nobody
Atlanta (Good Luck): Chris Sale (if not Atlanta this would work great)
Washington: Nobody
Miami: Sandy Alcantra (Risky. Miami will still want the hauls they were envisioning before the season and the Mets couldn't offer that but if Miami was willing to take a lesser package...)
Pittsburgh: Andrew Heaney (Not high on my list), Paul Skenes (for a fortune)
Cincinnati: Nobody
St. Louis: Nobody
Arizona: Eugenio Suarez (only if the Mets were trading one of their 3B options in the deal), Zac Gallen
Colorado: Nobody
Not Sellers Yet:
Toronto: George Springer, Chris Bassitt, Bo Bichette (Figure out where to play him)
Minnesota: Byron Buxton
Seattle: J.P. Crawford (Figure out where to play him)
Milwaukee: Freddy Peralta
San Diego: Dylan Cease, Robert Suarez
San Francisco: Robbie Ray
You say no one from Cincy but the player I’d most like to get is on the Reds - Hunter Greene. He’s young, has a combined 162 ERA+ since the start of 2024 and is signed on a very team-friendly deal that goes thru 2028 with a team option for 2029.
Looking strictly at what their needs are on the MLB roster now - and it’s possible they have answers there in the minors - they need 1B, 2B, 3B and RF. I’m sure they’d want pitching back, too. I’d offer Mauricio, Acuna, McLean and Megill - and expect that they’d want more.
I probably didn't look at him as a player Cincy would be looking to trade. Good points on why it might be doable.
They don't need a third baseman. Blackburn, Robertson, Holmes, Canning and a minor leaguer should suffice once and then Montas will be finished his rehab. Manaea is in rehab start. A left-handed reliever better than Castillo would be nice but the few aren't a significant upgrade. Raley has started his rehab so be patient. Cedric Mullins as a rental fits but if he is available the he will a steep price that I won't want to pay. I'm satisfied with Taylor and McNeil.
They don’t need an externally sourced 3B but they need someone to step up. We all thought Vientos was locked in but he’s regressed offensively and defensively. Baty is as erratic as ever and Mauricio hasn’t impressed. I would not want to trade for a veteran 3B or even a rental necessarily. I hate to second guess, but Iglesias on the roster would be nice right about now.
I pretty much look at the list and, outside of Skenes (Dave's list), I don't think any of these players actually make the Mets significantly better. It's hard to jostle a team around that's boasting the best record in the MLB (depending on the night). You could argue that third base could improve...but I'd want a guy like Bregman. Arenado is an improvement defensively but provides very little offensively and eats up that position for another two years. Tough to swallow blocking Baty and Mauricio. And Taylor has played a fine CF. Why take a flyer on guys that have stink for the last two seasons (Robert Jr)? Mets fans are always quick to want to trade guys who are slumping away (McNeil, Marte, Vientos)... Why would we assume we'd be patient with a Robert Jr if he came and was the same guy he's been? I'll bet Stearns nibbles around the edges but doesn't make any big splash.