When Brodie Van Wagenen spoke with the media on Monday, he alluded to a quiet trade deadline for the Mets this year. BVW pointed to the uncertainty due to COVID, the expanded playoff field and the shortened season as reasons why most teams (including the Mets) would be hesitant to make a move at the August 31st deadline.
Yet according to a recent article by the Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal, the Mets might not be so quiet at the deadline after all. In fact the article (which was roundup of Rosenthal’s reporting from around the league), started off as follows:
“A rival executive predicts the Mets will be a “surprising player” at the trade deadline, reasoning the team gained financial flexibility when right-hander Marcus Stroman and outfielder Yoenis Céspedes opted out of the 2020 season.”
With the opt-outs of impending free agents Marcus Stroman and Yoenis Cespedes, the Mets saved $6.5 million of their 2020 allocated payroll. The article also notes that Cespedes was on track to earn an additional $6.67 million in plate appearances tied to incentives. If a team was looking to dump salary in this anomaly of a season, the Mets could theoretically take on that expenditure.
“Other executives expect Mets general manager Brodie Van Wagenen to be aggressive as he tries to save his job with the sale of the team nearing completion. And still others believe the Wilpon ownership will endorse one last postseason push before they yield control of the club.” Rosenthal’s article continued.
The later part of that statement is interesting, as the Wilpons have to be looking at this season as their last chance at an elusive World Series championship. Would it be outside the realm of possibility to imagine them instructing Van Wagenen to make a deal to bolster their chances?
Unless he was simply bluffing, Van Wagenen’s statements on Monday contradict the assumptions being made by rival executives to Rosenthal. Van Wagenen spoke about looking out for the future of the organization and indicated that the return of David Peterson, Michael Wacha and Jake Marisnick off the injured list could all be categorized as their “deadline acquisitions”.
Also with the sale of the Mets being on the forefront of everyone’s minds, there is a chance that a blockbuster trade could anger potential buyers, who don’t want decisions being made that would impact the future of the franchise.
If the Mets were to make a trade, Rosenthal notes that their need is clearly starting pitching, but the market is rather thin when it comes to acquiring some. Of the expiring contracts of note, Trevor Baeur may be the only real difference-maker, with Kevin Gausman, Robbie Ray, Brett Anderson and Taijuan Walker all being mentioned as other names on the market.
Outside of his reporting on the Mets, Rosenthal also wrote about Texas Rangers starting pitcher Lance Lynn and their debate on whether or not to deal him at the deadline.
Lynn, 33, is 4-0 through seven starts this year and has thrown 100 or more pitches in 31 straight appearances. Lynn’s 1.59 ERA is currently the second-best mark in the American League.
Unlike the other pitchers mentioned, Lynn is under contract for 2021, on a team-friendly $8 million deal. If the Mets were in fact aggressive at the deadline, it is likely they would prefer a pitcher like Lynn who is under team control past this season.
