Mets trade rumors: Five teams bidding on Addison Reed

If you’re hoping that the Mets will trade Addison Reed before baseball’s Monday afternoon deadline, Buster Olney’s update that the bidding for him is down to five teams, including the Red Sox, is probably music to your ears. Reed has been one of the best relievers in Major League Baseball since the Mets acquired him in 2015 and is set to hit free agency this winter, making him one of the best trade chips the Mets have.

In 49.0 innings this year, Reed has a 2.57 ERA and 3.15 FIP, and since coming over to the Mets in a steal of a trade back in August of 2015, he has a 2.09 ERA that is fifth-best among pitchers who have thrown at least 100 innings since then—trailing only Andrew Miller, Kenley Jansen, Clayton Kershaw, and Aroldis Chapman. The fact that he’s only under control for the rest of this season is the downside here, but he’s more talented than your average rental reliever.

Whether the Mets ultimately trade Reed or not, he’d be a welcome sight when the team puts together its 2018 roster. Despite having just acquired AJ Ramos, who is under control through next season, the Mets will need more than Ramos and their in-house options for the bullpen if they’re going to get back to contending. Whether or not they’ll be willing to pay Reed what the free agent market dictates is another matter entirely.