The New York Mets have already been active at the trade deadline by dealing away a few key players. Which three players could be next?
The Mets have taken the deadline by storm, trading away multiple starters. These moves include Max Scherzer and David Robertson, both of which held tremendous value. Going into the season, the Mets were never seen as potential sellers, considering how much money was spent putting this team together. But a few months later, here we are.
With that being said, the Mets aren't finished selling yet. New York has multiple players remaining on their roster that have received a decent bit of interest from contending teams. They very well could move these three pieces before today's 6 PM ET trade deadline.
Mets rumors: Justin Verlander could still be moved before today's 6 PM est deadline
Justin Verlander has been the hottest name on the trade market for quite some time now, and for very good reason. He's won the Cy Young award in each of his last two full seasons, including last year where he put up a career best 1.75 ERA. This year hasn't been the same kind of dominance just yet, but knowing Verlander, that could change in an instant.
A trade for him is incredibly complicated though. The asking price is said to be multiple top end prospects if a team wants to net the 40-year-old. For some, this price alone is enough to exit the Verlander sweepstakes, but that hasn't stopped teams like the Dodgers and Astros from continuing to push.
The Mets ace also holds a valuable full no-trade clause, meaning he has full control over if he is even traded in the first place. When dealing with a superstar like this, it's hard enough to find a trade where both sides agree. In this case, they would have to make sure a third side (Verlander) agrees before this trade can go through.
It's been rumored that multiple teams are good fits (Reds, Dodgers, Orioles, Astros), but it has yet to be rumored that a deal is anywhere close to being done. With just over six hours remaining until the deadline, somebody will need to get quite aggressive in order to land the reigning Cy Young winner.
Mets rumors: Tommy Pham could still be moved before today's 6 PM est deadline
The New York Mets have continued to receive serious interest in Tommy Pham over the course of the last few days, leading into the deadline today. Pham is seen as an ideal trade chip for New York, and for contenders as well, for multiple reasons. He sits on an expiring contract, he's a veteran of the game and he's having a great season, per deadline acquisition standards.
There are a ton of teams that could use his help in the outfield, but it's just about who puts the best offer forward. New York doesn't have much leverage in this situation, as Pham will likely be headed elsewhere in the offseason anyway. Teams like the Yankees and Phillies are in the market for an outfielder, if they decide to be aggressive. Pham is slashing a respectable .268/.348/.472, with an OPS+ of 126.
The Mets likely won't receive a tremendous trade package in return for the veteran outfielder, but it's a much better option than holding onto him and letting him walk in free agency. With the deadline in about six hours, New York has probably seen the last of Pham as a Met. At this point in time, it's nearly a 100% guarantee that Tommy Pham is on the move today and it just makes sense for the Mets.
Mets rumors: Brooks Raley could still be moved before today's 6 PM est trade deadline
Every contending team could use bullpen help, especially by way of a left-handed reliever that's having a great season. The Mets have the right guy for a deal with Brooks Raley. But Raley is far from a guarantee to be moved at the deadline, as he still has some decent value to the Mets.
Raley has a team option next year that the Mets very well could exercise at the conclusion of the season. That makes him less than a rental, thus making him far less likely to be traded than Pham, unless the offer fits the Mets' wants and needs. The lefty has garnered some significant attention from contending teams and could be seen as one of the more valuable bullpen assets left on the market.
He's having an excellent season, pitching to the tune of a 2.37 ERA and a WAR comfortably above 1. Raley throws a sweep that is nearly unhittable, allowing a batting average of .175 on the pitch, per Baseball Savant. To go along with that, he rarely allows the long ball, 0.7 HR/9 in 2023.
The veteran lefty isn't a lock to be traded before the deadline, but the Mets have gained serious attention from contenders regarding him. If the offer is right, look for Brooks Raley to be on the move today.