FanPost

The Mets should trade for Starlin Castro

It is no secret the Mets are lacking in the offensive department. The Mets are 26th in the league in Avg. (.241) , 20th in Runs Scored ( 369), and 24th in HRs (73). The front office needs to dig deep and make moves that will impact the club for the future. One guy to look at is Starlin Castro, Shortstop from the Chicago Cubs.

On July 5th, The Chicago Cubs and Oakland Athletics made a blockbuster deal sending Jeff Samardzija, Jason Hammel to Oakland for top SS prospect Addison Russell, 2013 first-round pick Billy McKinney, and starter Dan Straily. You have to think to yourself, "WOW!", the Cubs have acquired one of the top shortstop prospects in the game and they are already loaded at the position. It just makes perfect sense to reach out to Theo Epstein and to acquire a major need for the Mets’ organization.

Plain and simple, the Mets need a shortstop and the Cubs need pitching. I’m sure Theo Epstein would ask for Zach Wheeler as the main piece in a package deal and another young starter to solidify the trade. You have to assume guys like Jacob deGrom, Noah Syndergaard, Steven Matz, and Rafael Montero would be that extra piece.

I’m not the biggest fan of dealing young pitching, but this is an exception. Yes, Castro has his ways with his laziness on defense and his lapses on occasions, but he is 24 years old and is just too talented of a ballplayer to pass up on. One thing I give Sandy Alderson credit for is building depth along the pipeline of starting pitching. The Mets have done a good job loading up on young pitching. A main reason why I would sacrifice a couple of young starters for a bat like Starlin Castro, a bat needed in the middle of the lineup.

Starlin Castro is under a team friendly deal until the year 2020. A major key that would attract Sandy Alderson. Castro is making 5 Mil this season, 6 Mil in 2015, 7 M in 2016, 9 Mil in 2017, 10 Mil in 2018, and 11 Mil in 2019. Castro’s contact is a bargain and the Mets will have control for the next 6 years.

From the Mets’ perspective, Castro makes more sense than Troy Tulowitzki. Yes, Troy Tulowitzki is far and above a better player than Castro and I would take Troy any day of the week. Realistically, I just don’t see the Mets taking on Tulowitzki’s contract and the Rockies seem inclined to holding on into their star players. Tulowitzki’s durability is also an issue the Mets just can’t ignored.

Starlin Castro alone is not going to solve the Mets’ offensive woes, but it would send a message to the fanbase that the organization is mindful of what it is needed for this club and it is a first of many steps in the right direction.

This FanPost was contributed by a member of the community and was not subject to any vetting or approval process.