SAN DIEGO, CA – MAY 27: Jose Quintana #62 of the Pittsburgh Pirates pitches during the first inning. (Photo by Denis Poroy/Getty Images)
The New York Mets will no doubt be buyers at the deadline, but these are three potential trade targets that the team’s front office should avoid.
The New York Mets will undoubtedly be one of the busiest teams in Major League Baseball when the trade deadline comes around. New York put together one of the best rosters with several offseason signings, but the club may need to add a few more pieces before August 2nd.
When it comes to players the Mets will have their eye on, we all know the usual suspects. Frankie Montas and Luis Castillo are sure to garner some interest, and maybe even a player like Josh Bell will receive some inquiries from New York’s front office.
But what those players the Mets should avoid? Every summer there’s a handful of trade candidates that look like the right fit, but sometimes teams do more harm than good to their playoff pursuits. Which three trade candidates should the New York Mets avoid?
3. New York Mets trade candidate to avoid: Jose Quintana
Frankie Montas of he Oakland A’s and Luis Castillo of the Cincinnati Reds will be two of biggest names at the trade deadline this summer. But both starters are sure to cost any interested team a boatload of prospects in return.
The New York Mets will not be looking to part with two of their top prospects; Brett Baty and Francisco Alvarez. Because that, the Mets may looking to add a starting pitcher who won’t command as much in return.
Jose Quintana has found success with the Pittsburgh Pirates this season. Quitana owns an ERA below 3.00 and would seem to slot nicely behind the Mets trio of Jacob deGrom, Max Scherzer, and Tylor Megill.
But Quintana is coming off a season in 2021 where his ERA ballooned up to 6.43 while splitting time with the San Francisco Giants and Los Angeles Angels. But Quintana’s strikeout numbers were there in 2021. The left-hander had 85 punch outs over 63 innings.
That’s not this case this season in Pittsburgh. Quintana has only 46 Ks through 53.2 innings of work. While some team who’s desperate to add depth to rotation will likely take a flier on Quintana, the Mets should not.