Approach:

I utilized www.baseballtradevalues.com to assess the value of the trades I put together. Recognizing the trade deadline favors the seller, I figured the Mets, as the buyer, would need to provide excess value. For the purposes of this exercise, I figured 125% of the values used on the site’s calculator was appropriate. While I did not concern myself with whether or not my trades were likely to happen, I did want them to be logical given the interests of the opposing side. The goal ultimately was to address the Mets needs and position them for a championship.

Trades:

Mets trade OF Nick Plummer and RHP Jose Butto to the San Francisco Giants for 1B/2B/DH Wilmer Flores and RHP John Brebbia

Rationale:

Wilmer’s status as a Met folk hero is already cemented, it is only right to bring him back for a World Series run. Beyond his mythological status, Wilmer actually makes a lot of sense. He is the perfect right handed complement to Daniel Vogelbach. Wilmer is putting together a very good season and has the penchant for the clutch hit. John Brebbia has had a fantastic season for the Giants in middle relief. He does have two years of control, so the Giants may not be motivated to move him. That said, he is 32 years old, so he is certainly not a building block for the future. Nick Plummer seems like the kind of guy the Giants unearth from depth chart fodder and turn into 3 WAR players. Butto is relatively close to MLB ready and ultimately may hold down a back of the rotation or swingman role on a major league roster.

Mets trade RHP Eric Orze, 2B Wyatt Young, and OF Stanley Consuegra to the Detroit Tigers for LHP Andrew Chafin

Rationale:

Mets lack a quality lefty in the bullpen. This deal nets them perhaps the best left-handed reliever in baseball. Chafin has an opt out clause after the season in his contract, so the Tigers need to move him. Eric Orze was ranked as the 7th best prospect in the Mets system by fangraphs. I think that is overly bullish, but he is nevertheless a legit prospect with a plus splitter. Wyatt Young and Stanley Consuegra are both intriguing prospects. Young will likely move fast, but has a limited ceiling. Consuegra is a development project, but is years away.

Mets trade 3B/IB/DH J.D. Davis, C Tomas Nido, 3B//1B/DH Mark Vientos to the Chicago Cubs for C Wilson Contreras and RHP David Robertson

Rationale:

The Mets connection to Wilson Contreras and David Robertson have been circulating on the trade rumor mill for weeks. Although not the most creative trade, it does simply make sense. The Mets have had a very little production from the catcher position and Contreras is one of the best offensive catchers in the league. Robertson has experience pitching in New York and looks every bit the dominant late inning reliever he was in his heyday. Mark Vientos is a steep price to pay, but ultimately it is worth the deal. Adding JD Davis and Nido helps brush off competing trade offers from San Diego.

Mets Lineup

CF Brandon Nimmo

RF Starling Marte

SS Francisco Lindor

1B Pete Alonzo

DH Daniel Vogelbach/Wilmer Flores

2B Jeff McNeil

C Wilson Contreras

LF Mark Canha

3B Eduardo Escobar

Bench:

C James McCann

INF Luis Guillorme

DH Daniel Vogelbach/Wilmer Flores

OF Tyler Naquin

Rotation:

RHP Jacob deGrom

RHP Max Scherzer

RHP Tajuan Walker

RHP Chris Bassitt

RHP Carlos Carrasco

Bullpen:

RHP Edwin Diaz

RHP John Brebbia

LHP Andrew Chafin

RHP David Robertson

RHP Adam Ottavino

RHP Seth Lugo

RHP Trevor Williams

RHP Trevor May

RHP Drew Smith