With 10 days left until the MLB trade deadline, the New York Mets should be starting to narrow down their list of potential targets. The Mets are rumored to be looking at some of the top offensive players available on the trade market, while also considering more modest options as a fallback plan. As they continue their search in hopes of making a move before the deadline, the ideal trade target may be Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Gerardo Parra.

Parra is both a player who can make a meaningful impact for the Mets as well as coming at an affordable price. He would provide an immediate upgrade in the Mets’ outfield, a place where New York needs substantial help. At the same time, since Parra would be a rental for the remainder of the season, the Mets would not have to increase their payroll significantly or part with a multitude of important prospects to bring him to New York.

Offensively, Parra would help to lengthen out the Mets’ lineup with his .848 OPS, which has continued to rise as he has been red hot swinging the bat during the month of July. With a .348 on-base percentage, Parra could even take over the leadoff spot from Curtis Granderson, allowing Granderson to hit down in the order in more RBI situations. Either way, Parra would immediately become the Mets’ best hitter outside of the injured Travis d’Arnaud.

Defensively, Parra could step into right field where he would be an upgrade over Granderson who has seen opposing base runners take liberties against him all season. Granderson could move to left field, a position that suits him better at this stage in his career, potentially into a platoon with Michael Cuddyer in the event Cuddyer can come back from a nagging knee injury. An outfield of Parra, Granderson and Juan Lagares would be able to cover plenty of ground in support of the Mets’ pitching staff. Parra could also provide occasional relief for Lagares in center field, as he has battled nagging injuries all season and could use a few days off during the second half of the season.

In terms of cost, acquiring Parra for the rest of the season would add roughly $3 million to the Mets’ payroll, which is a reasonable request, even for the rather stingy Mets ownership. In terms of the prospects required to acquire Parra, there’s no way the Mets would have to give up one of their top young pitchers or outfielder Michael Conforto to land Parra, even with a few other teams expressing interest in him.

The Mets and Brewers have reportedly been in contact most of the summer, discussing several of Milwaukee’s players in a potential trade, which could give the Mets a leg up over other teams with regard to working out a deal. Surely an outfield prospect like Brandon Nimmo or pitching prospects like Gabriel Ynoa or Michael Fulmer will be enough to persuade the Brewers, a team that’s likely to be a motivated seller at the deadline, to send Parra to the Mets.

With rumors suggesting the Mets would like to add a left-handed hitting outfielder, Parra would appear to be the ideal choice. He’d be an instant upgrade for the Mets both offensively and defensively, and he wouldn’t cost an arm and a leg. Trading for Parra would be the perfect middle ground between selling the farm system for a player like Justin Upton and making a modest trade for the sake of making a trade that ultimately does little to help the Mets reach the postseason. Parra is the player the Mets should make their top target.

Bryan Zarpentine is a Featured writer at www.RantSports.com.  Like him on Facebook, follow him on twitter @BZarp and add him on Google.