The Mets have added Rich Hill to a healthy rotation that boasts Marcus Stroman, Taijuan Walker and Tylor Megill. Add to this that they are days from seeing Carlos Carrasco make his Mets debut and that Jacob deGrom could return soon as well and you wonder, might the Mets not “need” to make any move at all for legitimate playoff contention. Afterall, by the playoffs you could have a fully healthy lineup and be looking for a use for Noah Syndergaard.
With pitching health a perpetual unknown, the Mets are looking to do what they can to give them the depth that could make them a very dangerous playoff team. One player the Mets reportedly have their eye on is Max Scherzer, the Ace of their rival Washington Nationals. Nobody expects Scherzer to come cheaply and the Mets are looking to avoid dealing any of their top 3 (now top 4) prospects in a deal. Those two things don’t seem to line up so today we’ll review who the Mets might actually part with to bring in a big name.
Ronny Mauricio – With Francisco Lindor signed to a long term contract and Mauricio too large to be a long term shortstop the Mets could consider their former top prospect a trade chip. Mauricio has a strong arm and good instincts in the field while generating very impressive power from a skinny frame. In 2021 he’s seen both Francisco Alvarez and Brett Baty skate by him in the rankings. That being said, he still seems too good to trade for a player who will be an unaffordable unrestricted free agent after the season. Supposing he can’t stick at the shortstop position, he could wind up being shifted to third, second or right field and still provide a ton of value.
Mark Vientos – The Mets have enjoyed a breakout 2021 campaign for Vientos in AA Binghamton where the third baseman has displayed a ton of power. Then, as a bit of a surprise, the Mets promoted another third base prospect to the same level. Now, the Rumble Ponies seem to be splitting their time between Vientos and Baty at third base and left field. Either way, this seems like a surplus of talent at the AA level making the lesser name trade fodder. Sadly, Vientos doesn’t have the name recognition to draw a trade for an Ace like Scherzer (though he could well be part of a package.
Robert Dominguez – With the Mets farm system hurting for pitching talent it would be hard to see them parting with J.T. Ginn or their recent draft picks. Ignoring the army of injured players (Allan, Szapucki, Kilome, Gonzalez, Dibrell etc) that leaves the Mets to dangle Dominguez. He makes sense on several levels. Firstly, he’s got a high ceiling that a team like Washington could view as a major lottery pick. The Mets only have him in the FCL so his New York impact is a solid three to four seasons away which makes him a solid combination of value/risk that makes him a prime trade candidate.
Would the Nationals consider a trade centered on the likes of Vientos and Dominguez? Perhaps not but the Mets already have deGrom, Carrasco, Stroman, Walker, Syndergaard, Megill and Hill lining up for their playoff rotation and should be in a position where they feel safe saying “No” to anything more.
Updated June Top 20 Prospects
1. Brett Baty, 3B/LF: (Up 2)
The promotion to Binghamton gives him a boost even if he didn’t immediately begin hitting after this promotion. His tenure as the Top Prospect will be weighed by his ability to find his footing and him holding onto the ability to be a starting third baseman.
2. Francisco Alvarez, C: (Down 1)
Seeing Alvarez live is a trip. People should take advantage of getting to see him in Brooklyn up close and personal. He is very powerfully built and plays solid defense but his bat seems to be a bit streaky. Comparisons to Yadier Molina seem off, in my opinion, as his physical build and hitting seem less in line and no catcher ever looked so smooth behind the plate as Molina.
3. Ronny Mauricio, SS: (Down 1)
Something of note from live scouting, Mauricio and Alvarez seem to have a real friendship as the two players warm up together and hang around one another in the dugout. Another oddity is the way Mauricio approaches the first pitch. He seems to take an ugly swing in the first pitch of each at bat but, said swing, seems to be a tool for gauging the pitcher.
4. Kumar Rocker, RHP: (Drafted)
The Mets top pick from the 2021 class has high expectations with some immediate medical concerns as well. The pitcher with the explosive slider hasn’t suited up yet but gets the #4 ranking thanks to injuries to both Matt Allan and Pete Crow-Armstrong.
5. Mark Vientos, 3B: (Down 1)
How can a player hit really well and go down in the rankings? The answer is the draft. Vientos is now splitting time with Baty and the Mets would do well to promote him to AAA so that both can get reps at third. Though, the Mets might be just as interested to see how both players handle the outfield.
6. J.T. Ginn, RHP: (Up 1)
The Mets top pitcher (who wasn’t just drafted or sitting on the IL) earned a promotion to Brooklyn and looks to be progressing smoothly. The Mets may have a three headed beast of a rotation in Brooklyn in 2022 with Ginn, Allan and Rocker.
7. Matt Allan, RHP: (Down 1)
Injured. Ranking unlikely to change
8. Pete Crow-Armstrong, CF: (Up 1)
Injured. Ranking unlikely to change
9. Tylor Megill, RHP: (Up 2)
Keeping Megill on the prospect list is only a token gesture at this point. He has graduated to the majors and has already exceeded the team’s expectations for him.
10. Alexander Ramirez, OF: (Even)
Ramirez is playing well for St. Lucie and will be shadowing Pete Crow-Armstrong as the two develop as future outfielders for the team. Ramirez has more power than Crow-Armstrong but his hit tool isn’t as advanced.
11. Thomas Szapucki, LHP: (Down 6)
Szapucki had one job. Stay healthy for an entire season. He failed to do that. I’m not giving up on Szapucki but this year has seen him plummet downwards in terms of expectations.
12. Franklyn Kilome, RHP: (Down 4)
Still injured, his future is likely going to be with another franchise.
13. Khalil Lee, CF: (Up 1)
Lee has slowed down again in AAA and concerns about his ability to hit in the majors should be pretty high. Don’t trust any rankings that list him in the Top 10 as Lee has some major warts on his MLB upside.
14. Jaylen Palmer, Util: (Up 2)
Palmer has settled in at St. Lucie and has become reasonably consistent. Add to this that Palmer has 23 stolen bases and you have a prospect who could rise up into the Top 10 of the organization as he develops.
15. Carlos Cortes, 2B/OF (Even)
While Cortes has cooled off from his blistering month of success he is still proving to be a consistent contributor to the Rumble Pony offense. With Baty and Viento getting time in left field, the utility player is getting time elsewhere in the field.
16. Harol Gonzalez, RHP (Down 3)
The season that might have been if Gonzalez wasn’t hurt. The guy has been a workhorse every season and as soon as the Mets had a need for him in the majors he winds up on the 60-Day IL.
17. Wagner Lagrange, OF: (Up 1)
The book on Lagrange has always been that he projects as a reasonably capable fourth or fifth outfielder. That book is becoming out of date as Lagrange has seemingly developed a power tool in July of 2021. In the month of July he has a ridiculous (for him) SLG of .592 with five home runs.
18. Dominic Hamel, RHP: (Drafted)
The third player the Mets picked in the 2021 amateur draft, Hamel seems to have the second most talent based on his scouting profile. Assuming the Mets are able to sign him he should be a pitcher to keep tabs on.
19. Robert Dominguez, RHP (Down 7)
This is a pretty steep drop for Dominguez but the combination of him not getting a look at full season ball and the Mets draft conspired to hit at the same time. His early outings in the FCL haven’t been that great but his raw stuff suggests that he will see his prospect stuff rise.
20. Adrian Hernandez, OF: (Down 3)
Hernandez was demoted to the FCL and will have little time to right his own ship if he’s not going to fall significantly down the rankings moving forward.
Notable Movement:
Hayden Senger, C: He didn’t rise up much this month but continues to hit well for AA. He’s getting awfully close to cracking the Top 20.
Draft Class:
Calvin Ziegler, RHP: Ranked 24th in the system
Mike Vasil, RHP: Ranked 31st in the system
J.T. Schwartz, 1B: Ranked 34th in the system
Christian Scott, 1B/3B/RHP: Ranked 39th in the system
Levi David, RHP: Ranked 41st in the system
Great picture of the strength of our farm system. If I thought Scherzer was the last piece of the puzzle to win it all, I’d trade for him. Don’t think we are close to that yet as we still can’t see to score runs (see yesterday’s split with the Braves). I see JD and some prospects leaving to ply a Bryant or a Baez from the Cubs to upgrade us on offense and defense. Love JDs bat but his fielding, like the other day when he three home instead of turning the DP, made me cringe. I think they could go with the arms they have but only if Jake is okay. As Jake goes, so goes the Mets.
The Mets have very little pitching in the farm and I wonder if the Cubs would be open to J.D. Davis + C-Tier talent. That is the only way I trade a bat like Davis for a rental. There is so little pitching that I cannot see the Mets trade Jose Butto at the deadline.
Agree that I would not sell out on 2021…I just don’t think the Met lineup has matured to a championship caliber yet…they need a big bat and arm to propel but I don’t see them sacrificing that much to get those guys.
Bryant is clearly better than JD, but he is a pure rental. I would not part with any top 10 above or JD for a 60 game rental. While it is tempting in 2021, there are seasons beyond 2021. Most everyone is convinced that the NL will adopt the DH in 2022. Additionally, the Mets don’t have a lot of RH pop. JD is very appealing to me on a 2022 Met team with the DH in play.
Kimbrel is the guy that would tempt me most…I’m very curious as to his cost in the marketplace. With Familia’s sinker looking filthy lately, adding Kimbrel to this pen could really change the dynamic of the team, and not only in 2021.
Kimbrel. R. Rodriguez. Or Iglesias are the three relievers who interest me. Id be willing to part with any one prospect 6-15.
If you were to trade J.T. Ginn, Pete Crow-Armstrong, or Matt Allan for a reliever you would be drummed out as GM really quick. Khalil Lee, Carlos Cortes, Wagner Lagrange or Jaylen Palmer would be appropriate names in return for a reliever.
I agree. It all comes down to prospect cost. Kimbrell is signed through 2022, his prospect price may be too high for my tastes but likely not Dombrowski’s in Philly.
The other two guys I’d be OK with flipping 10 or below prospect or two for.
that depends on whether you think a shut down reliever is the missing piece. I happen to think Kimbrel in our pen, with our potential playoff starting rotation makes us as tough an out as anyone. Matt Allan is probably out all of next season and then it may be 3 years before we see him in the big leagues. Pete Crow would be a tough pill to swallow but Kimbrel would be on the team next season as well and I think worth it.
Craig Kimbrel and Tyler Anderson (or better) the should be targets.
Kimbrel might cost Mauricio but it would prevent the Phillies from having him. This winter they option have the option of trading Kimbrel or Diaz if they choose. In the mean time, they could have a shut down bullpen.
Anderson should cost very little , maybe a 15 – 20 prospect. He would be a stop gap fifth starter until the rotation is more healthy.
Anderson just went to the Phillies for their #29 prospect RHP (MLB) and a 21 yoa unranked catcher.
Looks like Anderson will go to the Phillies. Let’s face it, we do not have a lot of good trade prospects. So if we trade Mauricio or Vientos, who do we have to trade at next years deadline?
We need to make an assumption of losing Stroman and Syndergaard. So a move for a controllable starting pitcher makes sense.
Let’s trade Rocker. We may not even sign him because of an elbow issue. Can you imagine, finding this out now. Ouch.
How bout Britton from the Yanks?