Photo by Bill Kostroun/New York Post
The New York Mets unofficially announced they have begun selling at the trade deadline by trading closer David Robertson to the Miami Marlins for prospects INF Marco Vargas and C Ronald Hernandez. Both of the prospects acquired are teenagers playing rookie ball this season.
Obtaining prospects at this level is a bit unprecedented for the Mets organization. As has been noted, we discovered back in 2019 the Mets organization had not been scouting prospects down at this level. That seems to have changed with the Mets not only acquiring Vargas and Hernandez, but also with Eppler noting they’ve been tracking these players. Eppler would say on the trade, “We’ve had scouts at that level looking at some of the players, and I think one of the advantages also is we play them so much through extended spring and complex-league ball that they get familiar with our players and we get familiar with our players.”
Vargas, 18, was signed by the Marlins out of Mexico in the 2022 international free agent signing period, and he was given a $17,500 signing bonus. So far this season, he is hitting .283/.457/.442 with 11 doubles, one triple, two homers, and 19 RBI through 33 games of the Florida Complex League season.
On Vargas, Eppler said, “With Vargas, a left-handed bat, middle of the diamond, shortstop profile right now. Elite contact. Elite decision-making. He has above-average exit velocity for the level. He’s young, that’s another good quality, and he’s really performing well at the level.”
Hernandez,19, was signed by the Marlins out of Venezuela during the 2021 international free agent signing period, and he was given an $850,000 signing bonus. He is in his second season in the Florida Complex League, and he is hitting .298/.464/.452 with five doubles, one triple, three homers, and 25 RBI.
On Hernandez, Eppler said, “He’s a switch-hitting catcher, above-average arm strength, another guy with above-average exit velocity and really good decision-making in the batter’s box.”
With both prospects, Eppler highlighted their exit velocities, ability to make contact, and their decision-making at the plate. Of note, both prospects acquired have more walks than strikeouts, and both players have an ISO over .150. Perhaps, this gives us an indication as to the skills the Mets will look towards as they look to make more trades before the deadline.
