First Look at Early Returns of Mets Deadline Deals

The 2023 season has been a major disappointment for the Mets. The team came into the season with legitimate World Series aspirations, but eventually found themselves as sellers by the trade deadline. Despite being in a situation nobody could have expected, the Mets were able to turn their aging veterans and expiring contracts into much-needed prospect depth. They acquired 10 prospects who rank inside the top 37 according to MMO’s rankings. Let’s take a look at how the players involved have done since being traded.

6/24 – Mets trade 3B Eduardo Escobar & cash to Angels for RHP Coleman Crow & RHP Landon Marceaux

• Escobar – 33 G, .238/.278/.327, 2 2B, 2 3B, 1 HR

Escobar has not produced much in a part-time role with the Angels.

• Crow – DNP
• Marceaux (Rk, A, AA) – 6 GS, 16 1/3 IP, 22 H, 14 ER (7.71 ERA,) 14 K, 9 BB, 1.90 WHIP

The first trade the Mets made came well before the trade deadline. With the Angels needing help at third base after an injury to Anthony Rendon, the Mets sent Escobar to Anaheim for two pitching prospects. Crow is out following Tommy John surgery, and Marceaux has struggled across three levels.

7/3 – Mets send LHP Zach Muckenhirn & cash to Mariners for RHP Trevor Gott & RHP Chris Flexen

• Muckenhirn – (Triple-A) 10 G, 12.0 IP, 15 H, 9 ER (6.75 ERA), 2 BB, 7 K

Muckenhirn was recently designated for assignment and cleared waivers.

• Gott – 16.1 IP, 20 H, 10 ER (5.51 ERA), 6 BB, 17 K, 1 SV
• Flexen – 5 GS, 25.2 IP, 34 H, 18 ER (6.31 ERA), 9 BB, 21 K –w/Rockies

Gott has struggled overall with the Mets and is arbitration-eligible this offseason. The Mets immediately DFA’d Flexen, he cleared waivers, then signed with the Rockies.

7/28 – Mets trade RHP David Robertson to Marlins for 2B/SS Marco Vargas & C Ronald Hernandez

• Robertson – 9 G, 9 IP, 9 H, 7 ER (7.00 ERA,) 8 K, 6 BB, 1.67 WHIP

The Robertson trade was the sign that the Mets were punting on 2023. Robertson has not had the same success with Miami that he had in New York, converting four saves and blowing two while raising his ERA from 2.05 to 2.89 on the year.

• Vargas (Rk) – 15 G, .234/.368/.298, 3 2B, 10 BB, 2 SB
• Hernandez (Rk) – 14 G, .286/.509/.486, 4 2B, 1 HR, 15 BB

While Vargas, seen as the key prospect in the trade return, has struggled to begin his Mets career, Hernandez is off to a red-hot start, showing glimpses of power and plate discipline.

7/30 – Mets trade RHP Max Scherzer & cash to Rangers for SS/2B Luisangel Acuña

• Scherzer – 4 GS, 3-1, 23 2/3 IP, 14 H, 7 ER (2.66 ERA,) 30 K, 9 BB, 0.97 WHIP

While the Robertson trade signified the end of the Mets’ push for 2023, the Scherzer trade signified the full commitment to invest in the future.

• Acuña (AA) – 19 G, .240/.337/.267, 2 2B, 9 BB, 10 SB

While Acuña has not gotten off to a great start with the bat, he has shown off his athleticism by playing both middle infield positions and stealing 10 bases in just 18 games.

7/31 – Mets trade OF Mark Canha & cash to Brewers for RHP Justin Jarvis

• Canha – 19 G, .226/.329/.355, 5 2B, 1 HR, 8 BB

With Canha’s contract up at the end of the season (team option for 2024), a trade was inevitable once the Mets began selling. He has played both corner outfield positions and first base since joining the Brewers, and he has racked up extra-base hits and walks despite his average being fairly low.

• Jarvis (AAA) – 4 GS, 0-2, 14 1/3 IP, 17 H, 9 ER (5.65 ERA,) 16 K, 8 BB, 1.74 WHIP

Jarvis has not had the best start to his Mets career, but the Mets received a pitcher who can help them at the major league level as early as next season.

8/1 – Mets trade OF Tommy Pham & cash to Diamondbacks for SS Jeremy Rodriguez

• Pham – 17 G, .250/.288/.485, 5 2B, 3 HR, 4 SB

Pham was a lock to be traded due to his contract being up at the end of the season. Pham has been pivotal in helping a free-falling Diamondbacks team get back in the wild-card race. He delivered a walk-off two-run double on Monday with the team down to their final out.

• Rodriguez (Rk) – 13 G, .422/.536/.711, 4 2B, 3 3B, 1 HR, 7 SB

Rodriguez has done it all in 13 games in the Mets organization. He has hit for average and power while stealing seven bases in just 13 games.

8/1 – Mets trade RHP Dominic Leone & cash to Los Angeles Angels for INF Jeremiah Jackson

• Leone – 8 G, 9 1/3 IP, 8 H, 5 ER (4.82 ERA,) 9 K, 5 BB, 1.61 WHIP

The Angels’s season has taken a turn for the worst and they’ve been using Leone in some key spots. He allowed two runs over just 2/3 of an inning on Wednesday, raising his ERA with the Angels from 3.12 to 4.82.

• Jackson (AA) – 18 G, .200/.306/.400, 4  HR, 8 BB, 2 SB

Jackson started slow in Binghamton, but has been hitting the ball well of late. He has homered in back-to-back games and has a .827 OPS in his last 13 games.

8/1 – Mets trade RHP Justin Verlander to Astros for OF Drew Gilbert & OF/1B Ryan Clifford

• Verlander – 4 GS, 3-1, 24 IP, 27 H, 9 ER (3.38 ERA,) 22 K, 5 BB, 1.33 WHIP

Verlander has picked up right he left off since rejoining the Astros. He has picked up wins in each of his last three starts and pitched six shutout innings against the Red Sox on Tuesday.

• Gilbert (AA) – 17 G, .333/.389/.540, 2 2B, 1 3B, 3 HR
• Clifford (A+) – 17 G, .188/.316/.328, 3 2B, 2 HR, 11 BB

Gilbert has been sensational since joining Binghamton. He has been exceptional at the plate and has played all three outfield positions while primarily playing center field. Clifford has struggled overall to find his footing offensively, but has walked a bunch and shown off his plus power with two long home runs.

8/1 – Mets trade cash to Dodgers for RHP Phil Bickford & LHP Adam Kolarek

•  Bickford – 11 G, 11.1 IP, 13 H, 11 ER (8.74 ERA), 6 BB, 15 K, 1 SV
• Kolarek – 2 G, 2.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, (0.00 ERA), 1 BB, 2 K

The Mets grabbed a couple of relievers on deadline day because they knew they would need arms to eat up innings to finish off the season. Kolarek returned to the Mets organization 13 years after they drafted him in the 10th round.