Photo: Mets.com
By completing a blockbuster trade to acquire All-Star reliever Edwin Diaz and eight-time All-Star second baseman Robinson Cano from the Seattle Mariners, New York Mets general manager Brodie Van Wagenen has made a big statement to the rest of the league.
Van Wagenen has shown that he isn’t going to sit back and take his time as the new GM of the New York Mets. By shipping away coveted prospects Jarred Kelenic and Justin Dunn in his first deal of the offseason, he has shown he truly believes the Mets can contend in 2019.
However, there is still plenty of work to be done and offseason cannot end here. The Mets still have obvious needs which including a starting catcher, a right- handed hitting outfielder and at least one reliever.
According to Mark Feinsand of MLB.com, the Mets have actually spoken to the Indians about a possible Corey Kluber trade. This could indicate a legit possibility of dealing Noah Syndergaard for some major league ready talent at the aforementioned positions of need.
Noah Syndergaard is a player that brings you closer to contention rather than farther away. I appreciate the fact that Brodie is coming in and keeping all doors open, as long as any door concerning deGrom is slammed shut.
If Brodie believes he can trade Syndergaard to fill positions of need with major league talent, while replacing him with a guy like Kluber, I certainly see where he is coming from. Hopefully, before he makes any decisions, he does his due diligence and makes the right call.
Whether he deals Syndergaard or not, one thing is for certain for the rest of the offseason, Van Wagenen sees the Mets as contenders right now.
Van Wagenen has sent a message that he WILL go all-in for the 2019 season, and I feel there will be plenty more moves to come, especially with the reports of multiple rumors already swirling.
All in all, one can argue that the Mets gave up a lot for what they are getting back in the Cano/Diaz trade. However, an argument that is undeniable is that the 2019 New York Mets are now a better baseball team.
If Van Wagenen wants fans to take this is as a notification of contention in 2019, than he has to keep pushing. I don’t know about the rest of the baseball community, but as a Mets fan, I’m excited to see what Van Wagenen and company have in store for the rest of the offseason.
