The New York Mets should sell at the trade deadline, and these are their five best trade chips waiting to be cashed in.
For the second year in a row, a strong start to the season has gone completely up in smoke for the New York Mets. After keeping themselves a shade over .500 for the first month of the 2019 campaign, the Mets have sunk nearly 10 games under and are only nominally in the playoff hunt.
Having added Robinson Cano, Edwin Diaz, Wilson Ramos and Jed Lowrie over the winter in hopes of contending in the NL East, Mets management needs to take a step back and admit that things just aren’t going to work out with this bunch.
The Mets are spending nearly $160 million on their underachieving roster and do not have a farm system that can offer much immediate help for next season. With only two years of control remaining before Noah Syndergaard can cash in for a $100-million contract, it’s time for the Mets to wave the white flag and look to the future instead of constantly trying to fix a broken roster.
Syndergaard offers the Mets their best chance to bring back a game-changing prospect haul, but he has been struggling this year. They should field calls, but refuse to accept low-ball offers. Syndergaard will still have plenty of trade value over his final two years of arbitration or even this offseason if he pitches well over the final two months of the regular season.
While the Mets should stay engaged on the trade market for their flame-throwing starter, they have plenty of other trade chips that will also draw interest. These five players are their best remaining assets and can all be used to restock the farm system or shed salary.
SAN FRANCISCO, CA – JULY 18: Wilson Ramos #40 of the New York Mets watches batting practice before the game against the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park on Thursday, July 18, 2019 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
5. Wilson Ramos
The trade value of two-time All-Star catcher Wilson Ramos has taken a hit over the past month as he suffers through an extended offensive slump, but the Mets should be able to find a taker given his relatively cheap, short-term contract. The 31-year-old has been a trade chip in the past, hitting .337/.396/.483 in 33 games after being dealt to Philadelphia last season. Ramos has been one of the best offensive catchers in baseball since breaking out in 2016. He has hit .291/.343/.465 over the last four seasons with 57 home runs and 225 RBI in 391 games.
Interest in Ramos is still relatively modest for the time being. He has hit just .209/.306/.233 over his past 14 games without a home run and only two RBI. His bat is his biggest asset, and he offers minimal value as a defensive backstop at this point of his career. Ramos has allowed 52 stolen bases this season and has only thrown out 10 runners. If his bat gets hot in the week-plus before the trade deadline, the Mets may be able to find a taker.