The New York Mets are reportedly trying to build a team on a budget this offseason as it appears that they are trying to avoid crossing the luxury tax threshold of $208 million.

That would leave the team with roughly $16.5 million to spend if no other moves were made to clear some money as detailed by MMO’s own Christopher Soto.

While the Mets’ front office should be willing to go over the luxury tax line in 2020, it seems unlikely at the moment as they continue to explore ways to potentially improve the team.

According to Ken Rosenthal of the Athletic, the team is now considering the idea of trading one or both of Jed Lowrie and Jeurys Familia to clear salary. The caveat with that is the team would potentially package Dominic Smith with one of them in order to entice other teams.

While getting rid of one or both of those contracts is tempting, the idea of getting rid of someone as talented as Dominic Smith just to get rid of someone else is not smart.

The Mets don’t exactly have a strong farm system or many assets in general and Smith is one of their best at the moment.

If the team is using this money in order to re-sign Zack Wheeler, that would be one thing. But, with the market seemingly established for him and the Mets not as heavily involved, the chances of the team keeping him dwindle by the day.

However, where that money is ultimately allocated would be determined by the Mets’ front office.

If the plan would be to trade Smith and Lowrie/Familia to another team in order to then acquire someone in a trade like Starling Marte from the Pittsburgh Pirates who will make $11.5 million in 2020, this idea could backfire.

That would force the Mets to give up a talented asset like Smith to clear money and then give up more assets to get Marte.

As mentioned before, the team lacks young assets to deal, outside of their current core. A series of trades like this could force the team to completely deplete the farm and their major league assets.

Sure, the idea of opening up an extra $10 million in payroll before hitting the luxury tax is appealing.

But, if it requires dealing valuable pieces on the team to do so, it simply isn’t worth it unless if that money is being used to make a move or series of moves that would dramatically increase their chances of going deep into the playoffs in 2020.