ATLANTA, GA – OCTOBER 01: Tomas Nido #3 of the NY Mets fields and throws to first during the seventh inning against the Atlanta Braves at Truist Park on October 1, 2022 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images)
The New York Mets have World Series aspirations heading into the 2023 season, but which players should already be on the trade block?
New York Mets owner Steve Cohen was obviously unhappy with his team’s early exit from the playoffs last season. So what did he do? What any owner with unlimited funds would do.
The Mets signed Cy Young Award-winner Justin Verlander, inked centerfielder Brandon Nimmo to an eight-year contract extension, and locked up closer Edwin Diaz to the largest contract ever for a relief pitcher.
But with so much talent on the Mets roster, there’s bound to be a surplus players who may in fact fetch a decent return on the trade market or be taking playing time away from the team’s young prospects. With that in mind, who are five Mets players that should already be on the trade block?
4. NY Mets catcher Tomas Nido should already be on the trade block
The New York Mets are heading into the 2023 season with a catching combo of Tomas Nido and Omar Narvaez. There’s just one problem, the team’s top prospect Francisco Alvarez is knocking on the door and soon enough the 21-year-old will be part of the Mets every lineup.
Alvarez has not looked good this spring, and a tune up at Triple-A before making it back to the big leagues later this season is likely the only reason why Nido is still on the Mets roster.
Both Alvarez and Nido are right-handed hitters while Narvaez hits from the left side. That would lead one to believe that if New York would like to include Alvarez into the equation while still platooning their catchers based on the pitching matchup, Nido would be the odd man out.
Tomas Nido hit well this spring, but his career-OPS of just .580 is far from ideal. Nido would be a fine backup catcher for any number of teams, but if the Mets are looking to bolster the offensive production from the position, it’s time to let Alvarez take over behind the plate on a permanent basis.