Frank asks…
Last season the Mets almost traded Zack Wheeler and Wilmer Flores and then did trade a bunch of prospects including Michael Fulmer, Robert Whalen and Luis Cessa. If the Mets find themselves needing significant help again at the trade deadline, who are some of the names that could be trade chips?
Joe D. replies…
That’s a great question and I needed the week to respond to it. While the Mets were all too willing to deal Wheeler last July, I’m no so sure that’s the case any longer. A lot has transpired since then including the passage of six months with no setbacks and the 26-year old right-hander reportedly feeling great based on his comments last week. With the Mets’ quality pitching depth not what it was a year ago, I’m betting Wheeler stays put. Remember, he was supposed to be the best of the Mets pitching prospects two years ago.
As for Flores, because he doesn’t have a true position he could call home there’s always a chance he could be dealt, but I think the Mets will stick with him as well. Flores does fill a vital utility role and is probably an upgrade over Juan Uribe or Kelly Johnson just based on youth, potential, and upside. All teams need a player to fill this role and the Mets might be able to get some solid production if Flores continues to develop.
Don’t expect the Mets to unload 6-8 prospects in one fell swoop as they did last trade deadline. You can get away with something like that once and not really denigrate your minor league pipeline, but twice in successive seasons and you start doing some serious harm to your farm system and depth. Nobody knows that better than Sandy Alderson who has devoted a great deal of time and resources to building up the Mets’ minor league system.
Still there are some top names that may have lost some of their shine and could be dealt to fill a future major league need for the Mets. Chief among those is Brandon Nimmo who has seen his stock tumble in successive years. He’s still young and possesses a good eye at the plate, but nobody views him as the multi-tool star the Mets envisioned when they drafted him with their first round pick in 2011.
Other players on the 40-man roster who could be dangled as trade chips are left-handed relievers Dario Alvarez and Josh Smoker, and right-handers Seth Lugo, Gabriel Ynoa and Erik Goeddel. Regardless of what the front office says, I’m sure they would move Kevin Plawecki in the right deal, especially if Travis d’Arnaud proves healthy and steps up. Matt Reynolds is viewed more as a utility player than a future everyday shortstop or second baseman so he could go too. Rafael Montero has a long way to go to rebuild his value so he won’t be a key piece or headline any deal until that happens.
One player the Mets are very high on and won’t deal is right-hander Robert Gsellman who has steadily seen his stock rise since he was selected in the 13th round of the 2011 draft. You could tell a lot about a player by what his coaches and managers say about him, and they do a lot of raving about this 22-year old’s heavy and deceptive sinker. You could put shortstop Gavin Cecchini on the safe list too, another prospect the Mets love.
Anyway, that’s my view of things at this early point of the year. Things could change dramatically once the season starts, but I feel pretty confident with what I’ve put forth here.
