Excellent piece, David. Chock full of valuable information. I found it extremely useful to see these prospects in a depth chart format with their levels too.
As an aside, are any of the prospects that the Mets gave up in the last 2-3 seasons making their mark in another franchise? It’s seems that most, if not all of them, have faded. I think that most of the vets we received in return for these prospects are largely gone. Robert is maybe the lone exception and no one is missing Acuna.
There aren't any glaring names out there. You obviously have the Pete Crow-Armstrong situation, but there haven't been a great number of traded prospects who have had major impacts.
The black hole of first base. Is it because kids don’t grow up envisioning playing the unglamorous first base, instead all want to be the SS or outfield or the next Skubal? Is it because first base becomes the default of where to play players who have no other position? I want a Hernandez, Freeman or Olsen at first, not a poor fielder trying to find a position like Vientos, Baty, Young, or a strikeout king like Clifford. I’d like some off-season trades of the old baby Mets to clear some room for the kids to move up to since they will be saddled with Stinky and Putrid in 2027. Love the enhanced pipeline but I see that getting smaller as Stearns will deal some of them this off-season.
The Mets need pitching. I had hopes of getting some sort of pitching prospect at the deadline, but we didn't get anything notable. Trading for good (controllable) young starting pitching is really the only thing I'm really okay with trading just about any of our current prospects for.
Im in full agreement Steven. First base sees the ball more than anyone but the pitcher and catcher and has a lot going on, especially on the Mets who regularly get infielders that struggle to throw on target. Baty and Vientos sure made 1B look like a real position this year.
I'll echo Bull and say it was nice to see this broken down by position.
There's been at least some talk about the Mets using some of their minor league depth now to try and consolidate that into trades for something else. Do you believe this as a possibility?
The issue is how likely we are to get what we need. The Mets ideally need young successful pitchers who still have years of team control or high-level pitching prospects. Can the Mets trade for a team's Top 5 prospect pitcher? Maybe, depending on what that team needs. Unfortunately, the names on the Mets list are all going to be positions that most other teams already have and that pitchers like this are in extremely high demand.
Of course, there is never enough pitching. But really the Mets need accomplished front line starters for the big league team, I think 2, to have any hope to be close to post season play. Really we have 3 controllable youngsters just beginning their careers and locked in for years, which gives time to get to fortifying lower level pitching down the road.
Who are you counting as a front-line starter for the big league team? We had Freddy Peralta and he didn't work. Are the Mets going to throw a boat of money at Tarik Skubal? Even if they did, would he want to come here after the failures of 2025 and 2026? Do we think that Tong and Santucci are going to pan out long term? Are we sure of Scott and Thornton?
I think you can use Soto and Lindor as capital to entice a guy like Skubal - and then you see hes gonna lead 1, 2, and/or 3 up-and-comers with legit potential. And of course there is all the money to dangle. I personally would go after Skubal and someone else to front the staff. Cohen cannot commit to 1B$ on Lindor and Soto alone, and then just say well, we will see what happens. There is no way Soto signed up for that and Cohen will not stand for another “experiment” with the gaslighting high side economics of dumpster projects.
Tong is a zero to me. He will be lucky to make the Show. He’s a one-trick pony that got figured out in a flash. Santucci is something we wait to find out about.
If Cohen wants the post season, Stearns has a ton of work to do, and pitching is #1 IMO.
Tong now looks like a reliever to me and I think he could be a good one.
I don't think money is the issue but we've seen that Los Angeles seems to also have unlimited money and has a far better recent track record if Skubal wants to win.
When realizing the prospects that may be moved, it is important to note that many of the prospects acquired Rule 5 eligible this winter. Hence, they could be lost if not put on the 40 man. This includes Gill Hill and Rojas.
Excellent piece, David. Chock full of valuable information. I found it extremely useful to see these prospects in a depth chart format with their levels too.
As an aside, are any of the prospects that the Mets gave up in the last 2-3 seasons making their mark in another franchise? It’s seems that most, if not all of them, have faded. I think that most of the vets we received in return for these prospects are largely gone. Robert is maybe the lone exception and no one is missing Acuna.
There aren't any glaring names out there. You obviously have the Pete Crow-Armstrong situation, but there haven't been a great number of traded prospects who have had major impacts.
The black hole of first base. Is it because kids don’t grow up envisioning playing the unglamorous first base, instead all want to be the SS or outfield or the next Skubal? Is it because first base becomes the default of where to play players who have no other position? I want a Hernandez, Freeman or Olsen at first, not a poor fielder trying to find a position like Vientos, Baty, Young, or a strikeout king like Clifford. I’d like some off-season trades of the old baby Mets to clear some room for the kids to move up to since they will be saddled with Stinky and Putrid in 2027. Love the enhanced pipeline but I see that getting smaller as Stearns will deal some of them this off-season.
The Mets need pitching. I had hopes of getting some sort of pitching prospect at the deadline, but we didn't get anything notable. Trading for good (controllable) young starting pitching is really the only thing I'm really okay with trading just about any of our current prospects for.
Im in full agreement Steven. First base sees the ball more than anyone but the pitcher and catcher and has a lot going on, especially on the Mets who regularly get infielders that struggle to throw on target. Baty and Vientos sure made 1B look like a real position this year.
Yeah, Steve. A bopper, middle of the lineup bat up power bat, RBI guy, who can play everyday and handle NYC. Know any?
I want a 1B who is a middle of the order bat. Twenty plus homers and OK defense.
I'll echo Bull and say it was nice to see this broken down by position.
There's been at least some talk about the Mets using some of their minor league depth now to try and consolidate that into trades for something else. Do you believe this as a possibility?
Possible? Yes.
The issue is how likely we are to get what we need. The Mets ideally need young successful pitchers who still have years of team control or high-level pitching prospects. Can the Mets trade for a team's Top 5 prospect pitcher? Maybe, depending on what that team needs. Unfortunately, the names on the Mets list are all going to be positions that most other teams already have and that pitchers like this are in extremely high demand.
Of course, there is never enough pitching. But really the Mets need accomplished front line starters for the big league team, I think 2, to have any hope to be close to post season play. Really we have 3 controllable youngsters just beginning their careers and locked in for years, which gives time to get to fortifying lower level pitching down the road.
Who are you counting as a front-line starter for the big league team? We had Freddy Peralta and he didn't work. Are the Mets going to throw a boat of money at Tarik Skubal? Even if they did, would he want to come here after the failures of 2025 and 2026? Do we think that Tong and Santucci are going to pan out long term? Are we sure of Scott and Thornton?
I think you can use Soto and Lindor as capital to entice a guy like Skubal - and then you see hes gonna lead 1, 2, and/or 3 up-and-comers with legit potential. And of course there is all the money to dangle. I personally would go after Skubal and someone else to front the staff. Cohen cannot commit to 1B$ on Lindor and Soto alone, and then just say well, we will see what happens. There is no way Soto signed up for that and Cohen will not stand for another “experiment” with the gaslighting high side economics of dumpster projects.
Tong is a zero to me. He will be lucky to make the Show. He’s a one-trick pony that got figured out in a flash. Santucci is something we wait to find out about.
If Cohen wants the post season, Stearns has a ton of work to do, and pitching is #1 IMO.
I feel like you see Tong like I see Clifford.
Tong now looks like a reliever to me and I think he could be a good one.
I don't think money is the issue but we've seen that Los Angeles seems to also have unlimited money and has a far better recent track record if Skubal wants to win.
When realizing the prospects that may be moved, it is important to note that many of the prospects acquired Rule 5 eligible this winter. Hence, they could be lost if not put on the 40 man. This includes Gill Hill and Rojas.
It'd be pretty shocking for those two to not be protected.