A disappointing season took a turn for the weird Tuesday when Mets owner Steve Cohen called a press conference for Wednesday to chat with the media.
The outspoken Cohen apparently had seen enough. His team entered Wednesday at 36-43 and fourth in the National League East. He used his time to criticize the performance of the players and say that manager Buck Showalter and general manager Billy Eppler are safe this season. He added that he’s still looking to hire a president of baseball operations to work above Eppler.
Cohen also discussed the roster make-up and the possibility of the Mets becoming sellers at the Aug. 1 trade deadline if their struggles continue through July.
“It’s been incredibly frustrating,” Cohen said of the team’s play. “If we don’t get better, we have decisions to make at the trade deadline. It’s on the players.”
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The message is clear: If the Mets aren’t playing for anything by August, they’re going to shed some payroll.
The question is: How much? The Mets have one of the most locked-in rosters in MLB and would have to get creative to move players. That might mean taking back bad contracts or paying millions in salary to get value in trades.
If the Mets do become sellers, how would it look? Here are some of their options in that hypothetical, from the most to the least likely.
Who could the Mets trade at the deadline?
Players who can become free agents
The Mets could start with the players whose contracts will, or could be, up after 2023. They won’t net a large return, but they could bring back prospects who can shore up the farm system, which was ranked 11th in MLB before the season, per MLB.com. With Francisco Alvarez and Brett Baty in the majors, it’s time to replenish.
Carlos Carrasco, SP
Carrasco is 36, but teams are always looking for starting pitching at the deadline. He would be an “I can fix him” project as he has pitched poorly this season (6.19 ERA, 6.55 FIP in 48 innings). He’s making $14 million in the final year of his deal, but teams could take a flyer on him if he comes cheaply.
David Robertson, RP
Just as important as starting pitching in a stretch run is relief pitching. Robertson, 38, has been a bright spot after being thrust into the closer’s role following Edwin Diaz’s knee injury. He is 11 for 13 in save opportunities with a 1.59 ERA in 34 innings. Robertson could help any contending team’s bullpen, and a win-now team may offer a solid package.
Brooks Raley, RP
Raley has posted a 2.67 ERA in 27 innings this season and has a $6.5 million club option for 2024 ($1.5 million buyout). Raley has struggled at times in high-leverage situations, but if a team is looking for a left-hander to shore up the ‘pen, then he would be a legitimate option.
Mark Canha, OF-1B
Canha has failed to produce for long stretches this season (.717 OPS in 66 games), but he’s a veteran right-handed bat who brings some power and plate discipline (13.4 percent K rate, 10.4 percent walk rate). No team will break the bank to get him, but as another player with a club option after this season ($11.5 million, $2 million buyout), he could have value to some team.
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Adam Ottavino, RP
Ottavino, 37, is a slightly different case as he has a player option after 2023 ($6.75 million, with $4 million deferred), but he’s another reliever teams may give up decent assets to acquire. He has been the Mets’ primary setup reliever and No. 2 option at closer (five saves) this season.
Tommy Pham, OF
It’s slightly surprising that Pham, 35, is tradeable, but he has been a bright spot for the Mets over the past month or so. With four home runs and an .880 OPS in June, he has shown he’s worthy of interest from teams. If one of them wants a right-handed bat, Pham should be available at a low cost.
Arbitration-eligible players
The other key subset is players who are still under team control but will enter free agency in the near future. This includes one homegrown star and some role players.
Pete Alonso, 1B
Alonso, 28, is easily the biggest name on this speculative list and the player who would net the best return. He has one more year of arbitration eligibility and little progress has been made on a contract extension. Alonso has 24 homers this season and led the league for a while before injury slowed him down.
Luis Guillorme, INF
Most of Guillorme’s value is in his versatility: He can offer reliable defense at second base, third base and shortstop. He hits for little power or average, although his contact rate has been good in the past. His ability to add flexibility to a roster could be tempting enough for a team.
Drew Smith, RP
Smith fits a specific profile: His fastball sits around 95 mph with good spin, he has produced a good strikeout rate and a low walk rate, and he’s late in the arbitration process. His ERA has ballooned to 4.56 this season and he’s coming off a suspension for sticky stuff, but the right team could decide it likes his stuff enough to acquire him.
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Why Max Scherzer, Justin Verlander & Francisco Lindor won’t be traded
Many Mets fans would like to see Cohen and Eppler burn it all down and get rid of the team’s big-money players.
But it isn’t realistic to expect Scherzer, Verlander or Lindor to be moved. Lindor has a modified no-trade clause and, more to the point, a contract that is almost untradeable.
Scherzer has been rumored to be open to waiving his no-trade if it came to it, but like Verlander, he isn’t pitching up to the level of his deal. In the end, that would be the bigger concern with regard to the twin 40-year-old starters.
| Player | AAV | Through |
| Max Scherzer | $43.33 million | 2024 (opt-out after 2023) |
| Justin Verlander | $43.33 million | 2024 (player option for 2025) |
| Francisco Lindor | $34.1 million | 2031 |
