GM Sandy Alderson said the Mets were more likely to build via the trade route than by making a big splash in the free-agent market.
Amidst the Ike Davis flap, one must wonder what pieces the Mets have to trade.
When you read between the lines from what Alderson has said, everybody is fair game outside of Matt Harvey and Zack Wheeler.
There might be more arms down below the Mets would find untouchable, and Jenrry Mejia probably isn’t one of them any more.
Let’s examine several of the higher profile Mets as to their trade worthiness:
DAVID WRIGHT: He’s the one that always comes up first, but it appears the Mets will make a play to keep him. He’s their biggest position-player talent, but his contractual situation would make it difficult to move him. Most teams wouldn’t want to pay Wright’s 2013 salary as a rental without having the opportunity to sign him to an extension first. Trading him in the offseason is highly doubtful, but a team with a lot of resources could do something next year at the trade deadline. Signing Wright to the long-term deal he deserves would be pricey and those are difficult to unload. The situation with the Dodgers was a stroke of luck for the Red Sox.
R.A. DICKEY: Dickey is one reason I’m still watching the season. Outside of the young prospects, he’s their most valuable pitching chip. He has a movable contract, and even a contract extension would probably be palatable to another team. Even if Dickey wins the Cy Young Award – now appearing doubtful – there’s the specter of the knuckleball and finding a catcher who can handle the devilish pitch. Despite Dickey’s success, too many people in baseball would shy away at such a pitcher. You don’t have to look any further than Tony La Russa’s decision at the All-Star Game to realize there’s prejudice against the pitch.
JOHAN SANTANA: The Mets’ best hope here is if he makes a full recovery and pitches lights out in the first half. Then you might find a taker for the remaining $12 million or so remaining. Even that’s a lot and there’s always the fear of him breaking down again. The Mets got all they could from Santana before he broke down and would be foolish to think they could get anything more in a trade. His value to the team is to come back strong as he did this year in the first half and pitch them into contention for a wild card.
JON NIESE: He’s young, left-handed with a strong arm and affordable. What’s not to like? He’s the type of pitching talent teams are built around. Yes, he would bring something in return, but the Mets covet him and would be crazy to trade him.
JASON BAY: He’s been injured, non-productive and has a ridiculous amount of money still due. He’s not going anywhere.
All this makes Davis the most tradable.
