The consensus among rival executives and evaluators is that the Mets‘the most valuable trade chip, by far, is the starting pitcher on Thursday, Luis Severino.
“Severino offers an average perspective,” said one high-ranking American League executive.
The case of the star first baseman Pedro Alonsohowever, it is more complex.
The Mets have not yet decided to become trade deadline sellers. In fact, as we previously reported, they would strongly prefer to avoid this approach for the second season in a row. But if closer Edwin Diaz If you don’t get back into shape, it’s hard to see a path to discord.
Although the Mets hope Diaz, activated from the injured list on Thursday, can regain his confidence – and manager Carlos Mendoza sees signs that he is – rival evaluators remain concerned that he is not fully healthy.
Diaz missed all of last season after injuring his knee in the World Baseball Classic. Pitching with reduced velocity and command, he has a 5.40 ERA and has made four saves in nine chances. He went on the injured list on May 29 with a right shoulder injury.
One evaluator posited that Diaz this year was “all arm, like he was trying to protect his knee.”
Diaz says he is healthy.
In a recent conversation with Diaz, Mendoza felt that the Mets closer seemed much more confident than when he was in the midst of the May slump. With few to no better options, Mendoza will immediately restore Diaz to the closer role.
If Diaz is successful, it’s easier to imagine the Mets joining the Wild Card race. If you don’t, they may determine, albeit reluctantly, that selling is more prudent.
Of the players with expiring contracts that the Mets could sell, Severino stands out for his appeal to other teams.
Others, like Harrison Bader, Adam Ottavino It is JD Martinez they are expected to earn only modest returns.
Alonso’s case divides baseball people. Many note that the rental market for right-handed slackers is generally not robust, hence the expectation of a lower return for Martinez.
“For rent, you can’t get much for Alonso unless there’s a bidding war,” said one appraiser.
Said another veteran executive: “Alonso might get you the 5-10 rated prospect. Not someone who is a stud.
“I don’t agree with that,” said a high-ranking AL executive. “Pete could be the difference between making the playoffs or not. He’s better than Arraez [Luis Arraez, for whom Miami acquired reliever Woo-Suk Go and three prospects from an aggressive Padres team].”
If the first two quotes are correct, it would make more sense for the Mets to hold onto Alonso until he reaches free agency at the end of the season. Why subject a fan base to a traumatic trade just to receive a minor league player who may or may not develop into a major league player?
But if the third executive is correct and teams see Alonso as a difference-maker, the Mets will have to consider it. It will be up to the president of baseball operations David Stearns and your group to assess its value and proceed accordingly.
