The Mets 2023 season has not gone how anybody expected. The blue and orange are sitting at 43-50 and are 8.5 games out of a playoff spot. With the trade deadline two weeks away, general manager Billy Eppler and the Mets have some critical decisions to make.
While recently, there has been a lot of talk about which moves the Mets should make, here are three moves that the Mets should not make at the trade deadline.
- Mets could pull off unprecedented superstar free agent signing in 2025 & retain Pete Alonso, per insider
- Mets top pitching prospect gets call-up for MLB debut
- Mets trade Zack Short to Red Sox after uneventful start to the 2024 MLB season
The Mets shouldn’t trade Pete Alonso
Pete Alonso is currently in the midst of his worst season as a pro, and with the blue and orange struggling, everyone seemingly seems up for grabs.
In 85 games, the 28-year-old has slashed .207/.306/.484 with 26 home runs and 61 RBIs while having a 117 OPS+.
Alonso is arguably the face of the Mets, and trading away the 28-year-old while still being under team control through 2024 would not only be a move that would outrage the fan base but also hamper the team’s ability to compete in the immediate future.
Keeping David Robertson and Tommy Pham
Two of the nicest surprises of the 2023 Mets season have been the stellar play of veterans David Robertson and Tommy Pham.
Robertson has been excellent in the closer role, pitching in 37 games to a 1.96 ERA with 47 strikeouts and 12 saves. While Pham has been a fantastic everyday outfielder slashing .271/.347/.476 in 71 games with nine home runs and 34 RBIs.
The Mets need to cash in on these veterans excellent first half’s rather than keeping them in hopes of some miraculous playoff push.
Trading for Shohei Ohtani
Shohei Ohtani is the most intriguing name at this year’s trade deadline and far and away the best player in baseball.
The two-way superstar has pitched 105.1 innings across 18 starts to a 3.50 ERA, 1.12 WHIP while striking out 139. In 93 as a hitter, the 2021 American League MVP has slashed .306/.391/.677 with 35 home runs and 75 RBIs while having an absurd 185 OPS+.
Ohtani’s skill is undeniable, but mortgaging the farm for a player who, despite his skill, won’t alone be able to will the Mets into the playoffs seems like a poor decision, especially considering his upcoming free-agent status.