In Brodie Van Wagenen’s first offseason as Mets’ general manager, his big splash backfired. The Robinson Cano and Edwin Diaz trade produced disastrous results, costing the Mets their top prospect, Jarred Kelenic, and getting them little value in return – Cano and Diaz combined for 0.8 WAR in 2019.

But don’t expect that misfire to limit the New York’s GM aggressiveness at this week’s Winter Meetings in San Diego. Despite the Mets slow start to the offseason, Van Wagenen may still look to swing another blockbuster trade.

“I think he’s trying to be aggressive,” a person familiar with Van Wagenen’s broad offseason plan said to Mike Puma of the NY Post. “But I’m not so sure I see a splash in the cards with them.”

What makes a big splash seem unlikely is the Mets’ financial limitations and their depleted minor league system. The Mets are approaching the luxury tax threshold, and Van Wagenen already traded the team’s most valuable prospects, such as Kelenic and Justin Dunn in the Diaz/Cano trade, and Anthony Kay and Simeon Woods Richardson in the Marcus Stroman deal.

Puma lists Mookie Betts, Francisco Lindor, Josh Hader, and Corey Kluber as potential targets, but most of these big-name options seem unrealistic given the Mets’ constraints.

Betts and Lindor are two of the game’s best players in the prime of their careers. Betts, the 2018 AL MVP, batted .295/.391/.524 with 29 homeruns and 16 steals this season, while Lindor, a four-time all start and two-time gold glove winner, hit .284/.335/.518 with 32 homeruns and 22 steals in 2019.

The Mets would have to part with significant talent to acquire these players and have enough financial flexibility to get them. Betts made $20M in 2019 and is arbitration eligible, while Lindor made $10.5M and is also arbitration eligible.

Betts will become a free agent in 2021 and Lindor will hit free agency in 2022.

Meanwhile, Hader ranks as the one of the game’s most dominant relievers. Hader struck out 138 batters in 75.2 innings last season with a 2.62 ERA and 0.80 WHIP, so it would take a significant haul – like what the Mets paid to get Diaz last year – to pry the dominant closer away from Milwaukee.

Out of all the options Puma lists, Kluber seems the most feasible.  His value took a huge hit in 2019 after he fractured his forearm and made just seven starts. He posted a 5.80 ERA in those games, but there is no denying his upside. The 34-year-old ace went 20-7 with a 2.89 ERA and 0.99 WHIP with 222 strikeouts 215 inning in 2018, and he won the Cy Young award in both 2017 and 2014.

Since Kluber is owed $17.5M in 2020, Puma wonders if the Mets could offer a deal starting with J.D. Davis or Dominic Smith for the Indians’ starter, and throw in Jed Lowrie’s contract to help offset the salary. This may not be enough for a pitcher with a track record like Kluber’s, but his injury concerns will lower his value, especially since he will be 34 in 2020.

It’s good to hear that Van Wagenen is trying to be aggressive, but he should remember that a big offseason splash doesn’t always yield impressive results. Sometimes, it’s the moves that create little fanfare – like his acquisition of J.D. Davis – that turn out to be the best trades, while deals that create the biggest headlines become massive mistakes.