With the All-Star break come and gone, the New York Mets (47-41) are six games shy of the Washington Nationals in the National League East, and they are tied with the Miami Marlins for the final wild card position.
However, if you delve deeper, the Mets still have some serious issues, with injuries affecting Steven Matz, Yoenis Cespedes, and Noah Syndergaard right now, Lucas Duda being out until August, and losing Matt Harvey and David Wright for the entire season.
Besides the injuries, it seems that the whole roster (the starting rotation, the lineup, and even the bullpen) of have become weakened to the point that the team may struggle in the second half. Sandy Alderson, their perceptive GM, now has a few weeks to make the right move before the MLB Trading Deadline.
The team need to strengthen a bunch of different areas, but with very few prospects this year, as compared to last season, Alderson may need to get creative in trying to swing the right move for the roster.
Here are a couple of possible moves that the Mets can make to fulfill their deadline prerequisites:
Trade RHP Clay Buchholz for OF Alejandro De Aza to the Boston Red Sox
This trade benefits the Mets and Boston as perfect as possible. With Buchholz already having an awful season due to his demotion to the bullpen for a second consecutive season, it is clear the Red Sox do not have a permanent place for him, and a change in scenery is in order. With Boston constantly demoting Buchholz, it seems they are desperate to sell him. The Mets could use Buchholz in their rotation in place of Harvey as a solid 4 or 5. Remember folks, last season Buchholz finished with a 3.26 ERA, and he really is no slouch.
Now, De Aza has not exactly lit up NY since his arrival, but he does have a history in Boston, and could be the complementary bench player that they can use down the stretch, even a spot start here and there. The Red Sox currently require a left-handed hitting outfieler and trading for De Aza could be the best decision they will ever make this season.
Trade RHP Zack Wheeler, OF Curtis Granderson, OF Brandon Nimmo, and 1B Dominic Smith to the Colorado Rockies for RHP Boone Logan and OF Carlos Gonzalez
The Mets need some help in the bullpen as well as a big bat. With an outstanding season of a .318/.366/.550 slash-line, Carlos Gonzalez, 30, could brace with Cespedes at the center to boost their center. Since Gonzalez contract still runs to next year as well, this gives the Mets some outfield indemnity in the event Cespedes makes an off-season exit. This could be a very expensive deal to match what the Rockies did with Jose Reyes last season. The Mets should also use this trade in landing the right-handed Boone Logan, who has made 35 appearances this season and has a 3.18 ERA.
Colorado may not be ready to part with Car-Go. However, with Gonzalez’s contract ending after 2017, the Mets can seal a deal with the Rockies and use him to rotate with the 26-year-old Zack Wheeler. Brandon Nimmo has also made his mark among his peers, and he should shine in the hitter-friendly Colorado. Mets also has the 21-year-old Dominic Smith, who has slashed .287/.354/.398 so far in the minors. Furthermore, Curtis Granderson’s contract ends in 2017 for the Mets and he has the potential to up his numbers while in Colorado, which makes him a potential piece of trade to beat the deadline for the Rockies.