Major League Baseball

Mets: Five possible trade partners

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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With the MLB Winter Meetings just around the corner, teams can solidify their identities with key additions.

We’ve already spoken before about free agency and how signing the top players at a position doesn’t always translate to wins or production. This is the time where general managers really earn their money.

For good teams, it’s all about adding that particular piece that’ll fit the puzzle. For bad teams, it’s trying to dump salary or older players in return for prospects. Much like the lottery, “you never know.” But in the Mets position, one thing that gets overlooked is a possible trade.

We hear about free agency and who they should sign or who they can sign. But being able to execute a trade that could make you better might be a little more difficult. That being said, the Mets have pieces to deal in return for some MLB-ready talent. Guys that can come right in (whether it’s bullpen or outfield help) and help.

With that in mind, here are five teams I could see the Mets completing a deal with, if the correct opportunity presented itself.

Toronto Blue Jays

The obvious choice here for a multitude of reasons, the biggest being Jay Bruce.

The Blue Jays, much like the Mets before the 2016 Trade Deadline deal to get him, have been linked to Bruce for years now. And why wouldn’t they want him? He’s a left handed slugger with a reasonable contract. Obviously Bruce didn’t play anywhere near his talent would suggest last year with the Mets, but to be able to use him as a RF/DH, Toronto would be very happy with that.

A name that jumps out at me is Roberto Osuna. Obviously you’d need need more names in a discussion, but these are two players that would benefit both teams. The Mets would get bullpen help and the Blue Jays would have another big bat in the lineup. Especially with the possible departures of Jose Bautista and Edwin Encarnacion, Bruce would help to replace that power outage.

San Francisco Giants

It’s hard to fix a team that has won three championships since 2010, but offense is the root of most of the Giants problems. They’ve always been stacked with great starting pitching and timely hitting.

The bullpen obviously needs additions, especially after a rough 2016 to say the least. If San Francisco wanted, I could definitely see Jay Bruce or Curtis Granderson helping the offense, especially on the power front. For the right price, these two teams could surely make a match that could be beneficial for both.

Arizona Diamondbacks

This is a team that supposedly “won” free agency back in 2015.

And what did it get them, you ask? The terrible record of 69-93. Already trading Jean Segura to the Seattle Mariners in a deal revolving around young pitcher Taijuan Walker, the Diamondbacks seem to be wanting to unload some contracts and get much younger. That being said, it wouldn’t shock me if they targeted a guy like Michael Conforto. Being only 23 and having an off year when he did play, Arizona could offer a full-time job in the outfield to Conforto. The Mets like him and would obviously need something in return that would make them better tomorrow than they are today.

But already having outfielders, including youngster Brandon Nimmo, and in the market for more outfield help, playing time might just be the biggest nemesis for most of these guys. If the right scenario presented itself, why not pull the trigger?

Los Angeles Angels 

With a team ERA nearing the mid 4’s last year, it’s no secret that the Angels pitching has been a huge problem the last couple of years.

With the Mets having an excess of young, starting pitching, would Los Angeles be inclined to make a move? One thing is for certain, you can’t win in this league without pitching and the Angels have been finding that out the hard way. Having a pretty good lineup with depth at certain positions, it’s all for naught if you can’t preserve the lead. Maybe a name like Steven Matz or Matt Harvey entices Los Angeles to part with some of their young, talented position players.

A name that jumps out is Andrelton Simmons, on the sheer fact that he is probably the best defensive shortstop in baseball. If he could just hit more, this guy has an even brighter future.

Chicago White Sox

With their ace already neck high in the trade rumor waters, it wouldn’tshock me if Chicago dealt away most of their high priced players.

Starting with Chris Sale, who many teams with pitching issue have been linked to, another name that fits the Mets needs more is Todd Frazier. If traded, could he be a replacement for David Wright? The Mets are pretty stacked in the infield right now with guys like Jose Reyes, Asdrubal Cabrera and Wilmer Flores, to name a few.

On a pretty bad team, Frazier belted 40 home runs and drove in 98 RBIs. Though his batting average is never high (.273 twice in Cincinnati), would Chicago be entertained to package a big bat for a possible pitcher? If a trade were to happen, I could see the White Sox being on the other end of it.

While trades obviously happen during the winter meetings, I feel they get overlooked because of the vast majority of free agents that could help teams win right now. We’ve obviously seen big trades happen at the winter meetings, so it wouldn’t shock me to see more unfold. Trades take longer because they need to be built around players, and help both teams.

Whether it helps now or helps in the future, you have to be a true master to manipulate the trade market in your favor. If Sandy Alderson finds a specific trade that would help New York win now, look for these teams to be in the mix.

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