New York Mets can be both buyers and sellers at deadline

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Miguel Andujar, New York Yankees. New York Mets. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /

Players to buy

As mentioned earlier, the New York Mets don’t have to limit themselves to selling only. They have enough current players and prospects to go after some current major leaguers who can help them in the future.

Shane Greene, RP, Detroit – It’s tough to be a closer on the worst team in the Majors. Nevertheless, Shane Greene has thrived. The Detroit Tigers have 30 wins this year, Greene has saved 22 of them. According to Fangraphs, the 30-year-old righthander has found his key to success.

He’s improved his groundball rate from a career in the mid-40’s percent range to 53.4 percent this season. Greene’s been able to keep the ball down without negatively affecting his strikeout rate. As a matter of fact, he’s gone from an average of 9.3 K’s per game to 10 K’s per game in 2019. Since Familia has turned out to be a bust, Greene would make a great set-up man for Diaz in 2020.

The problem here is Greene will be in demand by contenders. One of Detroit’s many problems is at the plate, they just don’t hit well. Someone like JD Davis and a good prospect or two might get a deal done. Should the Mets deal both Frazier and Davis, they still have McNeil to play third base.

Clint Frazier, OF, New York Yankees – It’s always dangerous to trade with a cross-town rival. If the deal doesn’t work one end, that team gets to watch the player they sent away to play on local television, while they lick their own wounds. Even so, there is some merit to the Mets and Yankees doing business.

Frazier doesn’t seem to be in the Bronx Bombers long term plans. Big Red has shown already that he can handle major league pitching. In his cameo earlier this year, he hit .283 with 11 home runs in 209 at-bats. Frazier would look good in the Mets lineup as a right-handed hitting counterpart to Conforto.

Miguel Andujar, 3B, New York Yankees – After a breakout 2018 season, in which Andujar was the runner up to Shohei Otani for American League Rookie of the Year, he has been out of sight, out of mind in the Bronx. His season-ending torn labrum combined with the rise of Gio Urshella has made the third baseman somewhat of a forgotten man.

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Obviously, he won’t play this year, but he’ll be ready for 2020. Trading him resolves several problems for the Bombers. They can alleviate their log-jam at the hot corner and get a few players they can use in other areas, such as a starting pitcher, etc.

Trevor Richards, SP, Miami Marlins – Another good prospect pitcher on a bad team. Someone will need to replace Wheeler and/or Vargas. The right-hander out of Drury University has one of the best changeups in the game. He isn’t eligible for arbitration until 2022, so the Mets would still have control of him for a few more seasons.

Richards biggest drawback is being able to locate his pitches. It would be interesting to see what he could do somewhere other than the National League’s perpetual cellar dwellers. There would be some competition as other teams have interest in Richards at the deadline

Brad Keller, SP, Kansas City – The Royals have said everyone on their roster except for Whit Merrifield is available for trade. If so, Brad Keller is someone BVW needs to look at. The former Rule 5 pick has been K.C.’s best pitcher the past two seasons.

Keller is only 23 years old but is a smart pitcher beyond his years. He mixes his three pitches (fastball, changeup, slider) well and more importantly keeps the ball down. Keller would do well at Citi Field and would be a good three/four starter for the New York Mets.

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