The Mets are in the middle of the pack in the division and the wild card race, and fans are taking sides on whether their Amazins should be buyers or sellers. Let’s look at both sides and afterwards I will tell you why the Mets should hold on tight and not make any rash deals.
The Mets Should Be Buyers:
Being just seven games out of the division lead and with the wild card at a tempting number, of course we should buy. Especially when your team is coming off an 8-2 run going into the all star break. If the Mets make a move and get the bat that they need to replace an ineffective and overpaid Chris Young. And who knows how much Bobby Abreu truly has left? With all the talent the Mets have waiting in the minors, the ability to move Bartolo Colon and Dice-K makes it easy to get a bat that the team needs. Batters like Alex Rios, Ben Zobrist, and Josh Willingham are all possible trade candidates that could be had for a reasonable price. For the Mets, now is the time to make that push and since they have the farm system to do so why should fans have to continue to wait until next year when this year has so much promise?
The Mets Should Sell:
We go through this song and dance every year with the Mets, they are always seemingly within arm’s reach of the playoffs but constantly fall short. Eric Young Jr. was a surprise last year and brought a new found energy to the team, but selling Marlon Byrd brought them a strong second base prospect in Dilson Herrera. It was a move for the future that combined with the Mets young pitching staff will make the longterm picture bright. Players like Colon and Dice-K could help the Mets gain another promising prospect, further putting the franchise in a better position to become a NL power house. Rios and Zobrist are players that the Mets would only be renting since both are free agents after this year. Is a rental good enough reason to trade away a strong prospect or two that could help shape the future for years to come? Being seven games out is too far as is leapfrogging seven other teams for a wild card, and rentals just aren’t worth it when the future is so extremely bright and close.
What the Mets should really do:
The Mets shouldn’t panic or push, small changes could have this team become a playoff contender. All that talent that this franchise has amassed at the major league and minor league level is a great strength for the franchise. It gives the Mets something they haven’t had in years and that is options. It is up to Sandy Alderson to make the most out of his prospect base and the best way to do that would be to remain in assessment mode and wait until the end of the season.
The trade deadline is hectic and fast moving, two things that aren’t conducive to making well thought out decisions. With the ability to sign Rios, Zobrist, Butler, and Hanley Ramirez during the off-season, why should we give up top prospects to get them two months sooner?
Fans are still yearning for the chance of landing Giancarlo Stanton or Troy Tulowitzki and that won’t be possible until the offseason and we’d be better off having the full arsenal of prospects at our disposal. To truly shape the next few years of this franchise, and take the Mets from potential playoff contenders to championship contenders, patience will be the key factor in this process.
Let your voice be heard comment on what you think the Mets should do before the trade deadline or tweet me @Joe_Pic.
