The Mets would get much-needed depth at the lower ranks of their farm system.
The New York Mets may have maneuvered themselves into being sellers at the trade deadline, and they now have a plethora of expendable trade chips to bolster their burgeoning farm system even further before the July 30 trade deadline.
The Mets enter this week three games out of a Wild Card berth, but with seven teams ahead of them, it may be better for the Mets to trade some of its veterans, as they did last year. But let us be realistic here. Even if this club makes it to the playoffs, are they prepared to win in October? Given their pitching woes, the answer is probably no.
The Cleveland Guardians, who lead the American League Central and compete with the division’s surging Kansas City Royals, may benefit from the services of a current Met. The Guardians are the major leagues’ youngest squad. They can use a veteran with postseason experience to provide additional guidance to their young batters.
The two organizations last traded in January 2021, when Francisco Lindor and Carlos Carrasco were transferred to the Mets. This time, Cleveland gets the more important component in J.D. Martinez.
This Mets trade would be a win-win for both teams, as each addresses its own issues.
The Cleveland Guardians, who lead the American League Central and compete with the division’s surging Kansas City Royals, may benefit from the services of a current Met. The Guardians are the major leagues’ youngest squad. They can use a veteran with postseason experience to provide additional guidance to their young batters.
The two organizations last traded in January 2021, when Francisco Lindor and Carlos Carrasco were transferred to the Mets. This time, Cleveland gets the more important component in J.D. Martinez.
Martinez is a rental player with a $12 million deal this year, so the Mets would undoubtedly pay down at least a chunk of his remaining salary to acquire better prospects with Steve Cohen’s huge pockets.
In this fake, who does the Mets get in return? They’d get two of Cleveland’s top 30 prospects on MLB Pipeline, infielders Jose Devers (ranked 19th in the system) and Parker Messick (ranked 21st). Both of them are in High-A. The majority of the Mets’ top prospects are currently in Double-A and Triple-A, so this transaction adds talent to the Mets’ farm system at lesser levels.
Jose Devers’ minor league batting stats are pedestrian.676 OPS in High-A, but everything else more than compensates and explains why he is such an intriguing prospect. He stole 34 bases in Class A last year, and scouts think he has strong baserunning skills. His arm strength and defensive ability at shortstop are above-average, making him a great asset to any team. Because of his strong arm, he is more likely to play third base when not playing shortstop. For Mets fans reading this, think of another Luis Guillorme.
Parker Messick, the ACC Pitcher of the Year two years ago, impressed at Florida State with a devastating changeup and an 8-to-1 strikeout-to-walk ratio. These things have persisted inside the Guardians organization. In 11 starts this season, he has a 3.30 ERA, 69 strikeouts, and 18 walks in 57.1 innings. If the Mets sign him, he will add to the team’s pitching prospect pool, and he has the potential to skyrocket under the new pitching lab.
