The Mets‘ have struggled in 2024. The blue and orange entered the campaign with a roster that realistically could compete for one of the final wild-card spots or be scrapped for prospects at the trade deadline.
One move could get the Mets back in the hunt
While the blue and orange have underperformed and are seven games under .500 (30-37), the Mets are just three games back of the final wild-card spot due to struggles around the rest of the league and find their roster getting healthy with Francisco Álvarez and Edwin Díaz recently coming off the injured list.
Despite still being in the thick of things, the Mets don’t have a roster that could realistically compete with the upper echelon of squads around baseball and likely will find themselves selling at the deadline to continue to build on the philosophy Steve Cohen said he wanted the organization to have in building from within.
Pete Alonso was once the Mets’ expected trade piece
With Justin Verlander bringing in quite the haul last year, many expected star slugger Pete Alonso to be the biggest chip in the Mets stack this season. Alonso is slashing .233/.315/.459 through 67 games while leading the squad with 14 home runs and is tied for first with 32 RBIs, but recent reports show that another Met will be more valuable.
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Luis Severino is the Mets’ biggest chip, according to executives
According to a report from Andy Martino of SNY, talent evaluators and rival executives believe the Mets’ most valuable trade chip is far and away Luis Severino.
Severino came to the blue and orange this past offseason on a one-year $13 million deal and has become the ace of the Mets staff. The 30-year-old has pitched 78 innings across 13 starts to a 3.12 ERA with a 1.18 WHIP and 60 strikeouts.
The Dominican Republic native has struggled to stay healthy over recent seasons, resulting in fewer miles on his arm than the average 30-year-old, and could realistically be plugged into the middle of contenders’ rotation.
With the lack of effective starting pitching available at the deadline, executives could believe that teams could overpay for Severino, and the Mets could get some solid prospects in return.
Time will tell what they get if the blue and orange deal Severino, but if reports are to be believed the Flushing Faithful could find themselves disappointed for what the Mets get back for Alonso.