Last season, the New York Mets were two games away from facing the Yankees in the World Series. Finally, the Los Angeles Dodgers won both the National League and the championship. Since then, the Dodgers and Mets have competed in an arms race.
The Dodgers built a strong pitching staff with Blake Snell, Roki Sasaki, Tanner Scott, and Kirby Yates, while also improving their lineup and infield defence. The Mets, on the other hand, dumped a fortune at Juan Soto’s door to land the most sought-after free agent on the market.
Aside from Soto, the Mets don’t have much to brag about. Kodai Senga will return, boosting the numbers from their starting rotation. The Mets re-signed Sean Manaea and Jesse Winker while also adding Frankie Montas, Clay Holmes, and AJ Minter. Pete Alonso’s free agent status remains unsettled. The Polar Bear has been a key part of the Mets’ lineup and playoff success.
If Juan Soto is going to be the Mets’ triumphant hero, leading them to a World Series victory, he will need some assistance. To reach the World Series, the team relied on Soto and Aaron Judge, along with a strong pitching staff led by Gerrit Cole. Even nonetheless, the Yankees lost. The Dodgers are now considerably stronger.
The Mets are now seeking for another starter now that Luis Severino has left and Jose Quintana is expected to go. If they can find a great pitcher, it would undoubtedly boost their chances against the juggernaut from Los Angeles, but if they want to win, they must add star power to back Soto. Enter Luis Robert Jr.
Throughout his career, Robert Jr. has showed the ability to blast home missiles, hit for average, steal bases at a high rate, and provide Gold Glove defence in centre field. Unfortunately, injuries have repeatedly hindered him, taking him off the diamond for lengthy IL visits. However, if he can stay healthy, both his bat and his glove have the potential to alter any baseball team. He will be under club control until 2027.
Another terrible circumstance is that the White Sox have established an asking price. This price has scared away possible suitors like the Giants and the Reds. Fortunately, the Mets have an abundance of high talent that is hampered by guys currently on the roster. It appears that the Mets are ideal trading partners. Who could pull off such a deal?
The White Sox-Mets Trade Scenario
(All Mets prospect rankings are not updated since 2024, but MLB pipeline rankings are.)
Jeff McNeil, like Robert, has struggled with injuries. The veteran utility infielder/outfielder struggled last season, registering a.238 hitting average. But looking at his home/away splits, these figures appear to be from two distinct individuals. McNeil batted.199 at Citi Field and hit two home runs, but he had a considerably better road average of.279 with ten home runs. If he doesn’t have to play half of his games in Queens, McNeil should be able to recover quickly. And if McNeil regains his batting champion form, the White Sox will win.
Jett Williams is the Mets’ #2 prospect. He is recognized for his exceptional plate discipline and quickness. Despite striking out frequently, his on-base percentage in 2023 was a staggering.425 across three minor-league levels. His 2024 season, however, was hampered by injuries. However, when he is healthy and gets the call, he is expected to be a decent hitter.
Drew Gilbert, the Mets’ No. 3 prospect, is another young stud on the cusp of getting a call. Gilbert possesses excellent potential, hitting for both high averages and power. He also has excellent speed and is expected to be a solid centerfielder. His numbers last season, like Williams’, dropped as a result of injury.
Finally, the Mets’ No. 9 prospect, Nolan McLean, is the third-highest-ranked pitcher in the Mets’ farm system. McLean, a possible two-way prospect, throws five pitches: a fastball, slider, changeup, cutter, and curveball. Of his five pitches, he prefers the fastball-slider combination, both of which are lethal weapons in his nasty arsenal. This caused scouts to anticipate he’d be a bullpen piece rather than a starter, but he’s already demonstrated he can stay in the rotation. McLean’s fastball averages 95-96 mph and is a clear plus pitch, while his slider (sometimes known as a sweeper) is regarded as a “spin monster” that frequently exceeds 3,000 RPMs. His arsenal has the ability to significantly alter the White Sox rotation.
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