Blockbuster Trade Talk Meets Landing Ace and Star Outfielder

New York Mets They are expected to be aggressive this summer once they get to the NLCS.

New York will focus on rotation in the offseason, and CBS baseball player Mike Axisa will give them a real ace. Inside Axisa’s 10 bold off-season predictions articleHe had the Mets acquire Garrett Crochet and Luis Robert Jr. Chicago White Sox in a blockbuster movie.

“For this next bold prediction, we’ll say the Mets agreed to a blockbuster trade with the White Sox that sent Garrett Crochet. And Luis Robert Jr. to Flushing,” Axisa wrote. “Mets need rotation help Sean ManaeaJose Quintana and Luis Severino are becoming free agents and they are without a midfielder (Tyrone Taylor is a good player but come on). Crochet and Robert are headed to the Mets for a package that includes Brett Baty, Luisangel Acuna and at least two others. “This has been said before.”

Crochet will immediately bolster the Mets’ rotation and could be the team’s starter. The left-hander was named an All-Star last season and was one of the best starting pitchers. crochet He went 6-12 with a 3.58 ERA in 32 starts. It is predicted to do He will be owed $2.9 million in arbitration fees this offseason because he cannot become a free agent until 2027.

Robert Jr., meanwhile, would become the Mets’ starting outfielder. The 27-year-old player became an All-Star in 2023. last season Hit .224 with 14 home runs and 35 RBI in 100 games. The year before, he hit .264 with 38 home runs and 80 RBIs.

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What Are the Mets Giving Up?

In the proposed deal, Axisa sees the Mets trading Baty and Acuna, as well as two other prospects, as key pieces.

West Selected 12th overall in the 2019 MLB draft out of high school. The third baseman made his MLB debut in August of 2022. The 24-year-old could be the White Sox’ starting third baseman and fits in well with the young core they have built.

Baty in his MLB career He played in 169 games and hit .215 with 15 home runs and 55 RBIs.

Acuna, on the other hand, was purchased by the Mets from the Texas Rangers in 2023 with the Max Scherzer deal. Mets infielder 12. best chance and made his MLB debut in September. Acuna is 22 years old Hit .308 with 3 home runs and 6 RBIs in 39 at-bats in his MLB career.

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Starting to Prioritize the Mets

New York will look to strengthen its rotation this summer, either through a trade or free agency.

The Mets have three impact starters in free agency, and general manager David Stearns says adding pitching is a priority.

“Starting pitching is definitely a priority for us,” Stearns said. in question. “We have three free agent starting pitchers who combined for a lot of starts and a lot of finishes for us.”

Stearns also said money won’t be an issue as New York can pursue any player they want this summer.

“This is a great opportunity,” Stearns added. “I think when you have access to every level of the agency and every level of player available, it’s a huge opportunity and it opens doors and from time to time we have to decide which door to go through or what doors to go through.”

Mets payroll Last season it was over $300 million.

Cole Shelton Cole Shelton covers the NHL and MLB for Heavy.com. Since 2016, BJ Penn has covered professional and college sports, including bylines for USA Today, SB Nation, Rotowire, Canadian Baseball Network and more publications. More about Cole Shelton