Disclaimer: I am not necessarily in favor of trading Bobby Parnell, but since there’s a recent post for the opposite side of this argument, I figured I could play a little devil’s advocate.
Bobby Parnell is arguably one of the hottest names on the back-end relief market right now. He hasn’t allowed a home run all year, his WHIP is under 1.00, and his ERA sits at 2.30 with 17 saves. In his first full year as the Mets closer, Parnell has more than lived up to the task, despite what his 5-4 record might say. Proficient late-inning relievers are always a hot commodity in the second half of July because contending teams could always use an extra arm, for the 7th, 8th, or even 9th inning. Very few people seriously think that the Mets will trade Parnell, but here are a few reasons as to why it might be a good move.
His Age
If Bobby Parnell were a few years younger, then there would be no conversation. However, he’s 28, turning 29 in September, having his career year. Typically, this age range is when many players peak, and there’s obviously no way of knowing how Parnell is going to pitch even beyond this month. Many pitchers have all of a sudden lost their stuff and been relegated to middle relief or even the minor leagues. If Sandy Alderson has some concern about Parnell’s 2013 being somewhat of a flash in the pan, he could consider moving him to a contender who might overpay, which leads to…
The Return
When the Mets traded Carlos Beltran to the Giants in 2011, it was widely agreed upon that Sandy Alderson fleeced San Francisco in getting Zack Wheeler back in the deal. There’s admittedly no way that he could pull off a trade of equal magnitude for Bobby Parnell, but Alderson and the scouting team could do well to find a diamond in the rough outfielder or middle infielder who could help the Mets out sooner rather than later. It’s a bit of a stretch, but crazier things have happened. If it does happen, trading Parnell would be another large step towards…
The Future
The Mets farm system is relatively strong in the pitching department, and not just for starters. There are a handful of relievers waiting to get their turn to come to Queens and prove that they can be a part of the plan moving forward. A long list of guys all over the system are making strides towards being a part of the future Mets bullpen, including but not limited to: Jenrry Mejia, Jeurys Familia, Jack Leathersich, Chase Huchingson, Rainy Lara, Adam Kolarek, and Chasen Bradford. Bobby Parnell may be in the midst of a career year, but there are other guys who can come up to help fill the void if he gets moved.
The Mets shouldn’t necessarily trade Bobby Parnell this month, but it would be foolish not to field some calls. If someone brings an attractive offer to the table, Sandy Alderson has to at least give it a listen.
