The New York Mets are dead last in the NL East with a 45-62 record and a roster full of question marks. But one name keeps popping up in trade chatter: Francisco Alvarez.
According to MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand, the Mets could move their 22-year-old catcher because four or five teams are desperate for catching help. It makes sense. Alvarez has flashed power and arm strength, but he’s hitting .212 this season with a .675 OPS. He’s young, controllable and exactly the kind of asset a team like the Mets might cash in for younger pieces.
But don’t expect a full fire sale. Feinsand noted that president of baseball operations David Stearns probably won’t tear everything down because owner Steve Cohen isn’t wired that way. Cohen wants to win, and he’s shown he’ll spend to do it. That doesn’t mean they won’t deal from the edges though.
What Else Might Move?
The Mets already have backup catcher Luis Torrens drawing interest, and apparently they’d like to keep him. That tracks. Torrens is a solid defensive option and has a club-friendly deal. But beyond him, a few names stand out as likely trade bait.
Feinsand mentioned Freddy Peralta, Clay Holmes, A.J. Minter, Brooks Raley and Luke Weaver as guys who could be dealt. That’s a lot of arms. The bullpen has been a mess, and moving multiple relievers would signal a partial reset rather than a full rebuild.
And what about Francisco Lindor? He’s got a no-trade clause and Feinsand doubts he’d waive it unless the situation is perfect. So Lindor stays. Bo Bichette’s contract and opt-out structure also make him hard to move. So the Mets aren’t exactly stripping the entire roster.
The team also reportedly won’t touch prospects Carson Benge, A.J. Ewing, Nolan McLean, Christian Scott or a player listed only as Soto. Those are the untouchables. Meanwhile, guys like Mark Vientos and Brett Baty don’t carry much trade value, according to the report.
(On a side note: Feinsand’s list of unmoveable players includes “Soto” with no first name. Could be a typo or an internal shorthand. The team hasn’t clarified.)
Pressure Is Building
The Mets have a doubleheader against the Atlanta Braves on Wednesday, and the trade deadline is August 3. That leaves about a week for Stearns to sort out which guys stay and which go. They’re not going to contend this season. The real question is how much they’re willing to mortgage the future for a quicker turnaround.
Alvarez might be the most interesting domino. If he gets moved, it changes the team’s entire catching outlook for years. If he stays, it means they still believe he’s part of the core. The next few days should tell us which direction they’re leaning.
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