10 Players New York Mets Could Trade Before MLB Trade Deadline


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10 Players The New York Mets Could Trade Before MLB Trade Deadline

10 Players The New York Mets Could Trade Before MLB Trade Deadline
The Star-Ledger - USATODAY Sports

It’s July in MLB, and the trade season is upon us. One team that could potentially be quite active leading up to the trade deadline is the New York Mets. Fans have long grown tired of seeing the Mets lose, and they want to see something done to change that. Even if the team doesn’t start to win immediately, making trades will at least keep things interesting and give fans hope for the future. This means that general manager Sandy Alderson may be looking to make some moves before the end of the month.

The Mets are at an odd stage in the rebuilding process, which could allow them to be both buyers and sellers at the trade deadline. They have a few veteran players that have put together nice seasons and could become assets to contending teams down the stretch, and the Mets would be foolish not to consider trading those players in order to further help a quickly improving farm system. But the Mets are also hoping to acquire young talent that’s ready to play in the big leagues, as they hope to add more building blocks for the future.

There are some great pitching prospects that could become viable trading chips, but the Mets also have a few young position players currently on their roster that they could look to trade as well. It’ll be interesting to see what moves, if any, Alderson and the Mets end up making, because there are so many different options for them to take. Here’s a look at 10 of the players the Mets could choose to trade before the deadline:

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John Buck

John Buck
Daniel Shirey - USATODAY Sports

Buck is going to have some value at the deadline. His numbers now don’t look that good, but he was crushing the ball in April and he played practically every day for the first three months of the season, which might explain his decrease in production as of late. He’s a veteran catcher that knows how to handle a pitching staff and he’ll be a productive hitter in a part-time role, which means he would be a great pick up for a team looking for a second catcher. The question is: will the Mets part with him knowing that top prospect Travis d’Arnaud might not be ready to come up until September, if at all this season? If the Mets are comfortable going with Anthony Recker and prospect Francisco Pena in August and September, they could certainly part with Buck at the end of July and get something good in return.

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Marlon Byrd

Marlon Byrd
Anthony Gruppuso - USATODAY Sports

As far as veterans go, Byrd may be the best trade bait the Mets have. He’s having an incredible season, showcasing plenty of power with the bat while also playing a competent right field. Byrd isn’t a part of the Mets’ long-term plans, so they’d be better off giving his playing time to a younger player the final two months of the season, and it’d be nice to see Byrd have a chance to play with a competitor at this stage in his career. He could platoon in either corner outfield spot, and also provide some power off the bench, which makes Byrd a player worth trading for.

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Ike Davis

Ike Davis
The Star-Ledger - USATODAY Sports

Davis has provided the Mets with a lot of headaches, and although many within the organization still view him as a part of the future, if there’s a team out there that’s willing to take him off their hands, they should at least listen. The Mets do have other options at first base moving forward, and a change of scenery might serve Davis well after all he’s been through the past couple of years. While it’s not a likely scenario, Davis being traded should be considered a possibility.

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Lucas Duda

Lucas Duda
Anthony Gruppuso - USATODAY Sports

Duda doesn’t have the track record to give him a whole lot of trade value, but the power he possesses and the potential he has could make him a decent trade chip. With Ike Davis back at first base full time and the outfield at Citi Field starting to get crowded with the likes of Eric Young, Kirk Nieuwenhuis, and Juan Lagares, there may not be room for Duda, who is better off at first base than in the outfield anyway. Duda belongs in the American League, where he can play some first base and also get in the lineup as a designated hitter. His raw power is tantalizing to potential suitors, and if the Mets can get something decent in return, there’s no reason not to consider moving Duda.

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Dillon Gee

Dillon Gee
Brad Mills - USATODAY Sports

Gee isn’t necessarily a guy that the Mets want to be openly shopping, but he’s having a good season, and teams in the playoff picture that are looking for pitchers could certainly inquire about his availability. It might not be a bad idea for the Mets to consider selling high on Gee. Right now, Gee is an integral part of the Mets’ starting rotation, but if pitching prospects like Noah Syndergaard and Rafael Montero pan out, it’s going to be difficult for Gee to hold onto his spot in the rotation in the years to come. If teams are interested in him, now could be the time to trade him.

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LaTroy Hawkins

LaTroy Hawkins
Anthony Gruppuso - USATODAY Sports

Hawkins is the quintessential veteran reliever that you see get traded at the deadline every year. Despite coming to spring training on a minor league contract, Hawkins has had a good season and would be a nice addition to the bullpen of a contender. The Mets can’t expect to get much in return, but they have plenty of young pitchers they’d like to take a look at late in the season and they could use the roster space, making Hawkins a good trade candidate.

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Daniel Murphy

Daniel Murphy
Brad Penner - USATODAY Sports

There’s a lot about Murphy for teams to like: he hits from the left side, he’s a doubles machine, and while he’s finally settled into one position at second base, he’s versatile and can play multiple positions. He’s not a star, but Murphy could be a significant addition to a playoff-bound team and the Mets may be looking to move him in order to free up second base for prospect Wilmer Flores, who is tearing up the Pacific Coast League.

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Bobby Parnell

Bobby Parnell
Scott Rovak - USATODAY Sports

Teams have been asking the Mets about Parnell for years because they thought he could turn into exactly what he’s been this season, which is one of the top late-inning relievers in the National League. The Mets probably want to hold onto Parnell, as he finally appears to be fulfilling his promise as the closer of the future, but if they’re overwhelmed with an offer for him, the front office will certainly consider the possibility of trading him while his value is high. Don’t expect Parnell to be traded, but don’t be shocked if the Mets pull the trigger if the right offer comes along.

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Omar Quintanilla

Omar Quintanilla
David Banks - USATODAY Sports

The Mets have to be pleased with what Quintanilla has given them after Ruben Tejada went down with an injury. He’s been great defensively and hit for a fair average, despite a couple of prolonged slumps. However, if the Mets don’t see Quintanilla being a part of the solution in Queens over the next year or two, they should definitely entertain the possibility of trading him. The Mets aren’t sold on Tejada, but they could use August and September to evaluate him further while getting a little something back in exchange for Quintanilla.

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Scott Rice

Scott Rice
Brad Penner - USATODAY Sports

As a lefty reliever, there’s going to be a market for Rice at the trade deadline. The 31-year old rookie has had a nice season despite being overused. With Josh Edgin entrenched in the bullpen and several lefty relievers in the upper levels of the minors, the Mets may not see Rice as a part of their future beyond this season. If that’s the case, they have nothing to lose by moving him at the deadline. After playing 14 minor league seasons before getting to the big leagues, it would great to see Rice finish his rookie season with a team that has a chance to go to the playoffs.


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