Kiley McDaniel and Jeff Passan of ESPN put out their top 100 trade deadline candidates, and it should be no surprise that many Mets players were listed.

Who could the Mets sell?

Freddy Peralta – 11

Freddy Peralta is probably the Mets’ best trade asset. His low salary would not push any teams into the next level of the competitive luxury tax, like Tarik Skubal would, which could help him draw more suitors. ESPN lists the Guardians, A’s, Padres, White Sox, Cubs, Cardinals, Rays, Diamondbacks, Blue Jays, and Braves as potential suitors.

Peralta should net at least one top 100 level prospect and another prospect, depending on what the Mets target. Maybe a package like Pedro Ramirez (73 on Baseball Americas most recent Top 100) and Kaleb Wing, a helium pitching prospect in Single-A from the Cubs, could get to done. This would fit the Mets’ current needs while also bolstering their long-term pitching depth. Could the Cardinals go all in and trade Joshua Baez? Unlikely, but that is a return that would probably quickly lead to a one-for-one swap.

Peralta is unique in how little he is owed. That could bring in a higher level of bidding that maybe initially expected.

Brooks Raley – 36 and A.J. Minter – 38

Relievers get moved every deadline and can often net strong returns. Lefty reliever even more so.

Some recent examples of comparable trades in recent years are:

None of these players were on top 100 lists at the time of the trades, but then developed into top-100-prospect-level players. Robby Snelling went on to become the 25th best prospect before his debut. Cole Ragans was called up before making the lists, but when healthy looks like a frontline starter. Before his injury, Daniel Palencia was the Cubs’ closer.

This requires good scouting and development, but this level of pitcher tends to bring back strong returns.

Luis Robert Jr. – 57

Luis Robert Jr. is the talk of every trade deadline, it seems, and while he is currently on the injured list, it seems hard to imagine a team trading for him. But he does have a club option for 2027 and center field defense tends to be valuable to an extent. If he returns and has a few strong weeks, maybe a team would consider making a move for him.

The return would not likely be much. The Mets acquired him for an interesting but lower-level pitcher in Truman Pauley, as well as infielder/outfielder Luisangel Acuña, who may not have had a guaranteed roster spot going into the season and would have had to clear waivers if he did not make the team.

Mark Vientos – 78

Mark Vientos struggles against right-handed pitchers, breaking pitches, can’t really field a position, does not walk, and cannot run the bases. But the one thing he still does is hit left-handed pitching. Currently,  he is slashing .289/.304/.474 against left-handed pitchers. He is running an elite 90.8% zone contact rate (90th percentile), 49.2% hard hit rate (80th percentile), and only striking out 19.7% of the time (61st percentile). Vientos still has three years of control but no options.

I do not have a perfect comp here, but most likely the return would be more of a lottery ticket prospect in the low minors.

David Peterson – 79

If you want to move a rental pitcher at the deadline, you typically can find a buyer. The return on David Peterson is likely much lower than you would have expected this time last year due to not only his struggles, but his drop in both stuff and command, but he is still a cheap lefty. We have also seen pitchers like Lance Lynn and Shintaro Fujinami get traded at the deadline while struggling more than Peterson has.

MJ Melendez – 95

MJ Melendez has an interesting trade case because, as of right now, his minor league option for 2027 is preserved. A non-competing team could consider trading for him, stash him on their major league roster the rest of the season, and be able to stash him in Triple-A next year. He has played well enough offensively and defensively and has interesting traits.

Tyrone Taylor – 96

Similar to Luis Robert Jr., teams are fine giving up minimal returns for outfield defense. Tyler Naquin was able to be traded in 2022. For Taylor it really depends on when he returns and what he looks like.

Who Could the Mets Buy?

Just because the Mets look like they are trending to sell off their major league roster does not mean they cannot add for the future. Baseball does not end after 2026, and the next free agent class is not the strongest.

Here are the names ESPN links the Mets to buy:

Reid Detmers – 6

Reid Detmers on the Angels is under control through 2028 and is starting to look like the frontline starter upside he was projected to become as a prospect. He has the fourth most strikeouts in baseball alongside his 3.68 ERA and 1.00 WHIP. Adding a high upside left-handed starter would greatly benefit the Mets in 2027 and 2028 and fill one of the many holes they have in their rotation. ESPN has him at a 20% chance of being traded.

Jose Soriano – 7

Jose Soriano is also under control through 2028 and has very quietly been a steady mid-rotation starter through his four years in the majors, pitching to a 3.66 ERA and 1.30 WHIP. 2026 has been a breakout year for him, pitching to a 2.79 ERA and 1.23 WHIP, though under the hood he looks largely the same. Those current results could jump his price too high, and the Angels may not trade him, but he could fit the Mets’ rotation well. ESPN has him at a 20% chance to be traded.

Matt Chapman – 20

I do not personally see the Mets having any interest in acquiring Matt Chapman‘s age 34-37 seasons, but McDaniel and Passan have them listed as a potential suitor. Chapman is not an up-the-middle defender, and Stearns has shown third base is not a position he prioritizes defense at, letting Bo Bichette learn the position in-season and starting Mark Vientos there in 2025. Stearns also has preferred not to give out long contracts to veterans past their prime unless he is dumping a worse contract like the Brandon Nimmo and Marcus Semien swap. The Mets do not really have a contract swap that would make sense for them, so I struggle to see the fit unless the Mets are taking on his contract to acquire Bryce Eldridge. ESPN has him at a 25% chance to be traded.

Players Not Linked Who the Mets Could Target

Joe Ryan – 4

The Mets need frontline pitching for 2027, and if Joe Ryan is moved, he should be a target, if not the number-one target. He is likely better than any free agent option not named Tarik Skubal, and acquiring him now would give him the rest of 2026 to acclimate to Queens. He has plus stuff and command with a deep pitch mix. ESPN has him at a 55% chance to be traded.

Jeremy Peña – 3

The Mets need infielders, especially if Bo Bichette opts out. Marcus Semien likely should not be fully penciled into an everyday role in 2027, barring a strong second half, and at his age, Francisco Lindor‘s time at shortstop is likely not long. Jeremy Peña is under control through 2027. He is a plus defender at shortstop and profiles as someone who should be able to play both second base and third base. Peña is a Boras client, so there is always that expectation he will test free agency, but we have seen Boras clients extend even in walk years if their price is met, like Xander Bogaerts. ESPN has him at a 35% chance to be traded.

Jo Adell – 23

Adding an outfielder here may seem off, but Jo Adell adds a much-needed trait – power. He could slot in nicely as the designated hitter, giving all the outfielders days off their feet playing multiple days a week in the field. He can face every left-handed pitcher if you want to give Benge or Ewing a day off against a tough lefty. ESPN has him at a 20% chance of being traded.

Ryan Mountcastle – Not Ranked

Ryan Mountcastle is not on this list, and, similarly to Luis Robert Jr., has missed most of the season with injury. He has a club option for 2027 and does not really have a spot on the Orioles roster. His offense fell off a cliff when Baltimore changed their park dimensions, but he still hits the ball hard with fine contact rates. I would liken him to Ty France this year as a low-risk, inexpensive potential bounce-back player. He could split time at first base and designated hitter with Jorge Polanco and has some outfield flex.