Jose BautistaFor the 2014 Mets to get better two things are clear: they need to upgrade at shortstop and they need to add some pop to the lineup. Preferably the upgrade can lead off and the pop will come from the outfield. Scanning the list of available outfielders and possible shortstops there is potential for one very interesting trade. The Mets can fill two major needs with one trade by getting the two Jose’s: Jose Reyes and Jose Bautista from the Toronto Blue Jays.

The trade would be something in the form of: the Mets get Reyes (.296 BA, 10 HR, .780 OPS) and Bautista (.259 BA, 28 HR, .856 OPS) from the Blue Jays for Jonathon Niese, Daniel Murphy, Ruben Tejada and the Blue Jays pick from a list of middle level Mets’ outfield prospects. (Ideally the Mets can do this without giving up Matt den Dekker or Juan Lagares as they could turn into the Mets’ next Carlos Gomez.)

Why would the Mets do this? They fill two of their biggest needs with one trade. Reyes (who we know is capable of excelling in NYC) can bat leadoff and play short stop. Bautista gives the Mets some badly needed pop in the outfield and the middle of their lineup. Bautista’s days of 50 home runs are gone but he can still hit 25 – 35 home runs which would lead the Mets. He makes everybody better.

Why would Toronto do this? This is the trickier question. They do save some salary that they can spend in other places. They do get younger. They could probably justify this to their fan base by pointing out Reyes and Bautista each spent considerable amount of time on the DL last year and neither of them will be younger this year. Niese is a solid pitcher who will upgrade their staff. Tejada has shown flashes of potential, perhaps outside of the glare of NYC he will live up to it. Murphy is primed to have a break out year and maybe even compete for a batting title.

Why shouldn’t the Mets do this? If the Mets don’t have to give up Montero, den Dekker or Lagares there isn’t a lot of down side to this. Yes, the Mets will be taking on salary but the Mets are a major market team they should be able to take on salary. Plus the Mets will be free of some huge contracts: Santana, Bay and Francisco. It’s time the Mets spent some money wisely. Of course there’s that risk of Murphy becoming the big number three bat Mets fans have been waiting for him to become but to get something you have to give up something.

Why shouldn’t the Blue Jays do this? They are giving up two players who have in the past had MVP caliber years for a bunch of younger players who have talent and potential but none of them have even sniffed a spot on the all star team. They would be gambling that in the right environment any one or two of these three could become an all star.

Could this trade actually happen? In the world of “pie in the sky” trades this certainly is doable. A good trade helps both teams this trade could do that. There are a lot of permutations a trade like this can take. The Mets might have to offer Montero instead of Niese. The Jays might prefer Eric Young to Murphy since Young can also play second and bat lead off. Still, the Mets and Blue Jays have done the trade dance before. Would the Mets want to bring back Reyes? It’s not unprecedented to bring back popular ex-Mets. They brought back Tom Seaver, Lee Mazzilli and Bobby Bonilla. No reason why they can’t bring Reyes back he’s still one of the best shortstops around. Is it a gamble? Of course it’s a gamble but sometimes you have to gamble to win. Just ask the Red Sox.

35 comments on “Can the Mets do one-stop shopping with the Blue Jays?

  • Name

    The problem that I see with most people when they try to think of proposed trades is that the analysis is too one-sided. They think of their teams needs and subsequently think of other players that they could, and then try to scrap together a package using our excess, and try to justify how our scraps would fill their holes.

    I recommend that others to try it the other way around. Start with the other team first and consider their needs and the options that they have. There are other options beside the Mets as trade partners. If another team needs a pitcher, what options do they have? Niese is one, but Price is also available and if you’re going to trade a star player(Bautista) you better get another star or big prospect in return.

    Trying to fit a square peg in a round hole has never worked, and will never work.

  • Pres

    Another great deal! they get their SS and lead odd hitter and they get their power bat and they don’t give up Harvey!wheeler or Syndergard? this is what the mets should be doing.

    • pete

      you must be a friend of John.

  • John Zakour

    Well the Jays do have a glaring hole at second and do need more pitching which this would address. But yeah the Mets would most likely have to sweeten the package with a Montero and a top of the line outfield prospect.

  • David Groveman

    Jose Reyes would cost: $16 Mil in 2014 and $22 Mil after that
    Jose Bautista would cost: $14 Mil per through 2015

    So $30 Mil of the $35 Mil budget is gone and Niese is gone.

    It solves problems for both teams but causes others.

    Mets need to be more creative with payroll and Jays need more depth back into their farm.

  • AV

    “It’s not unprecedented to bring back popular ex-Mets. They brought back Tom Seaver, Lee Mazzilli and Bobby Bonilla.”

    This is factually incorrect. Bobby Bonilla was never popular.

    • John Zakour

      Okay, I’ll give you that. 🙂 I guess overpaid doesn’t equate to popular.

  • Scott Ferguson

    I think this could occur, but I think the deal would be more like Tejada, Murphy, Montero or Niese, Puello and Plawecki, possibly with another low level prospect thrown in. Sign Byrd or Beltran and you might have a playoff team there

    • John Zakour

      I think Beltran may be heading to the AL. I think he could benefit from DHing once or twice a week.

  • Chris F

    Reyes is never coming back to the Mets, so you can check this one at the door. Sandy offered him nothing. Reyes, as a leg guy, is facing his aging and declining years with a huge backloaded contract. Never gonna happen.

    • LongTimeFan

      Unlike Eric Young jr, Reyes is not dependent on his legs for performance and I wish people would stop with this long-held fallacy. His legs are bonus to a quick, compact level line drive swing, gap to gap, with power and using whole field. He’ll continue to hit even if he stops being base stealer. He did not have even one triple in 2013, but still was offensive force because the guy can hit and has never relied on the infield single nor bunt to forge success.

      • Brian Joura

        And I wish people would stop thinking that a player who depends on his legs can’t be successful after the age of 30. Brady Anderson, Brett Butler, Derek Jeter, Barry Larkin, Kenny Lofton, Paul Molitor, Ozzie Smith and Ichiro Suzuki all stole over 30 bases and were 3-WAR players after the age of 35. Rickey Henderson and Otis Nixon were still active baserunners age 35 and up, too. Bobby Abreu, Mark McLemore and Eric Young Sr., too

        • Chris F

          Can he be successful? Sure. But Im want no part of 22m$/yr for 4 years after 16M$ next year. Total waste of money. Clearly SA did not want Reyes. TO would need to eat a lot of that contract.

  • LongTimeFan

    Reyes yes, Bautista no – the latter’s durability and health is major question as is his decreasing performance most likely injury-related including wrist and DL the entire last two Septembers.

    I’m very interested in Reyes, the sequel, but think Alderson wouldn’t consider Reyes if B. Jays don’t chip in some dough.

    I doubt B. Jays take Niese given rotator cuff injury. Gee is safer bet along with offering strong minor league pitching prospect, a catcher and Tovar or Tejada.

    This deal could also expand to other players in both directions, could be mega trade. I would even return Travis D. in the right deal, wouldn’t hesitate to trade Lagaras or Den Dekker whom I really don’t see becoming the next Carlos Gomez who has far more natural talent. I would not trade Puello, Pawlecki or Murphy. If we get Reyes, Eric Young jr, could appeal to B. Jays as second base/outfield and speed replacement. Would they take back Ike if we got Encarnarcion, could we trade for Rasmus, or Gose? Even bring back RA Dickey? There are some rather interesting mixes and matches between both teams.

  • TexasGusCC

    Two questions:
    1. Why would Toronto’s GM do this one year after giving up the farm, literally, to get Reyes and a few meh players (Bonifacio, Buhrle, and Johnson)? He’s look like a fool and get fired.
    2. If the Mets don’t want Tejada, why do the Blue Jays? If you want Reyes and Bautista, here’s the deal: Niese, Murphy, den Dekker, Davis and Wheeler.

    • John Zakour

      I thought of maybe throwing in Davis but the Jays have a really good first baseman already. They certainly don’t need Davis. But that deal substituting somebody for Davis could work. I guess Davis could be a good backup.

  • steevy

    You know what is amazing?93 games for Jose Reyes and 0,ZERO,triples.

    • TexasGusCC

      Steevy, don’t expect the Jose Reyes we used to know. But, if he gets 35 doubles, 15 Hrs, and good defense to go with 35 steals, he’s still good. Wait a minute, less the good defense, he’s a rich man’s Daniel Murphy.

  • John Zakour

    Espn is saying the Mets should go after Jurickson Profar to play short. He’s so young, not sure how I feel about that.

    • Name

      If by ESPN you mean Adam Rubin, don’t put any stock to anything he’s writing. He’s needs content to fill up his blog so he’s just profiling random players. There’s no substance to what he’s writing; it is merely his opinion.

  • pete

    John this trade will NEVER happen. And if it did the GM for the Blue Jays would be fired. You want the jay’s to give up their heart and soul then the Mets would have to do the same in order for it to work for BOTH teams. Wheeler, Murphy, Parnell, Flores and Duda. If you’re thinking I’m crazy then the deal is fair for both teams.

  • Sean Flattery

    Would love it if it happened, but that deal doesn’t help the Blue Jays. Plus, I’m sure the are skeptical about getting ripped off by the Mets two straight years.

    • John Zakour

      Like I noted above, the Mets would most likely need to sweeten the deal with one of their top line outfield kids and another pitcher like Montero.

  • Dave

    the Mets should NOT trade Murphy, period!!

  • rds900

    You cannot trade the only lefty in your starting rotation unless you have a suitable replacement.

    • John Zakour

      I’m thinking if they do deal Niese they may bring back Santana for year at a reduced price. Or maybe bring Kaz back. Though I would prefer Josh Johnson. But yeah the Mets are very right hand heavy in starters.

  • pete

    John look it up before you answer. The Mets have to pay Santana no matter what happens. Either 25.5 or a team buy out for 5.5 million dollars.

    • John Zakour

      Yes they will most certainly buy him out for the 5.5, but then they still have the option of signing him for much less after that.

  • Reid Matthias

    I guess the real question is: Will a trade like this bring the Mets closer to the World Series, or will it really satisfy the fans willingness to fill a regularly empty ballpark. Reyes is (was) an amazing player and his energy and youthful enthusiasm sparked the Mets to sporadic wins, but he never really seemed to lead the Mets anywhere near the kind of dynastic run we hoped when he was in his mid-20’s. So, why would the Mets take on his bloated salary when his best years (probably) are behind him. Trading away Niese only weakens a rotation that is vastly weakened by Harvey’s surgery. As we watch the present WS, isn’t it interesting that a young, amazing line-up of homegrown pitchers can take out hitters like Bautista any day of the week. Free agency is the way to go unless someone like Stanton is included.

    • John Zakour

      It’s funny, my wife (an ex-shortstop for her national team) never liked Reyes. She doesn’t think he has a “winning attitude”. I can’t see the Marlins trading Stanton in division unless they were really blown away with a deal that included two young pitchers like a Wheeler and Syndergaard and no way the Mets make that deal. Marlins would have a scary good young pitching staff.

      • Reid Matthias

        My wife cares nothing about baseball and at least six times per season she will ask me why I don’t just trade teams. I think it’s like playing the slot machines: as soon as you switch, the one you were with will win. So, I keep playing this same Mets slot machine that never seems to come up Jackpot only bananas or cherries. Every offseason, I hope there is one GM from another team who will make a completely stupid move for the Mets’ benefit and I thought that last year when the Blue Jays went all in for R. A. The Jackpot didn’t come this year, but there were moments, as the wheels are spinning, that you can see things are starting to line up, so I think I’ll stay with the Mets, but I’m hoping another G. M. this year thinks that Daniel Murphy is their next long term answer at second base and is willing to trade a decent outfield prospect.

        But eventually, I don’t want the Mets to be a prospect team. I desperately want them to be a present day team that fills the stadium with roars of joy rather than the deafening sound of mocking laughter. That comes, I guess, with risk. What are the Mets willing to risk? Is Noah ready to float the Mets’ boat? Is Wheeler ready to take the next step? Would either of these guys be capable of bringing back someone – anyone worth the price of admission – to protect David Wright so he can bring back his 2006 self? I’m no GM, but as a fan, I’d sure like to see the Mets score a few runs with runners in scoring position. Carlos Gonzalez? Is he worth one of the arms?

  • pete

    So if you were GM for the Mets you would pay Johan 5.5 for his buy out and then pay him what? 2-3 million more with an incentive laden contract? Knowing he hasn’t pitched in 2 years and that he may incur the same injury again? Don’t you think that might just be a little too high-risk low reward option? I’m a Santana fan but since this was not Alderson’s signing he will not have any loyalty nor preconceived notions towards keeping him for the youngsters as a role model.

    • John Zakour

      yes, I would consider that when I look at the other lefty options out there. Santana has always been a smart, crafty pitcher. I think Santana at 7.5 to 8 million is worth taking a flyer on. it might be because I’ve never been a fan of Kaz.

  • pete

    John I agree with you about Kaz. Besides he was pitching for a contract. We all know what will happen after he gets a two year deal?

    • John Zakour

      Plus as a rookie he gave Al Leiter a hard time in the training room by refusing to turn down his tunes… That never sat well with veteran Mets (or me for that matter.) 🙂

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