In a brutally competitive National League, both the New York Mets and San Diego Padres have serious maneuvering to do this winter if they want to keep up with the Joneses.
Not only have both teams failed to win a division title in the last decade, but everyone is chasing the Los Angeles Dodgers, who have won back-to-back World Series rings and already made a major splash this offseason by nabbing the Mets’ longtime closer Edwin DÃaz in free agency.
New York and San Diego both have impressive collections of talent, but seriously flawed rosters. Often, that sets up perfectly for two teams to become trade partners, and it appears these two are already discussing many parallel paths to making a winter blockbuster a reality.
On Saturday, Ken Rosenthal, Dennis Lin, and Will Sammon of The Athletic confirmed that the Mets and Padres were engaging in trade talks involving multiple players on both sides.
“A number of Padres players who would fit the Mets’ needs are under discussion, as are a number of Mets youngsters who could help the Padres,” the insiders reported.
“The Padres’ players in the talks include right-hander Nick Pivetta, outfielder Ramón Laureano and relievers Mason Miller, Adrian Morejon and Jeremiah Estrada. San Diego, in turn, is asking the Mets about their young major leaguers and all of their top prospects, both pitchers and position players.”
Some of the Mets players the insiders may be referencing include infielders Brett Baty, Ronny Mauricio, and Luisangel Acuña, plus rookie starting pitchers Brandon Sproat and Jonah Tong.
Miller, in particular, is a fascinating potential target for the Mets, as he may be the only closer in the National League who projects as a match for DÃaz next season in terms of sheer dominance. He’s also under cheap team control for the next four years. There’s also been lots of talk in the past about converting him into a starting pitcher.
The Padres likely need multiple starters this winter, especially if they’re going to trade Miller and/or Pivetta, who was their Game 1 starter in the National League Wild Card Series.
A deal could happen at any moment or not at all, which is the beauty of hot stove season. But clearly, we should be watching these two teams closely as a possible match.
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