MLB Trade Rumors: GMs Eye Mets' Plans Ahead of Deadline; Most 'Tradeable Players'

The New York Mets are 27-35 and look nothing like contenders, which means other teams are going to start circling ahead of the July 30 trade deadline.

And that circling is reportedly already starting.

Jon Heyman of the New York Post reported Thursday that general managers around the league "are said to be especially interested in what the Mets do, since they may have more tradeable players than anyone."

Heyman pointed to Pete Alonso, Luis Severino, Sean Manaea, J.D. Martinez, Harrison Bader, Jake Diekman, Adam Ottavino, Reed Garrett, Sean-Reid Foley, Starling Marte and José Quintana as potential trade candidates.

According to Spotrac, the Mets have the highest total payroll in Major League Baseball for the second straight season. All that has gotten them is a fourth-place finish in the National League East last season and a disappointing start to the 2024 campaign.

It may be time for the front office to start focusing on shedding payroll and turning its attention toward the future if things don't quickly turn around ahead of the deadline.

Alonso is the biggest name from that list, and a trade makes sense considering he is on the final year of his deal and could sign elsewhere without trade pieces in return next offseason. Heyman noted last month that the Chicago Cubs "are the obvious potential suitor" for the slugger, although he reported a rival listed the Houston Astros, Seattle Mariners and Toronto Blue Jays as possible landing spots.

Having multiple teams in something of a bidding war ahead of the deadline would be an ideal situation for the Mets, as they could maximize their return in what is shaping up to be a lost season.

Bleacher Report's Joel Reuter listed the Cubs' farm system as the best in the league last month, so there are enough talented pieces that New York might get back in a trade who could help accelerate the rebuild.

Alonso would likely get the Mets the most in return, but trading multiple players from that list would be the best move. Almost nobody on the major league roster should be considered untouchable given the team's overall struggles, which would shift the focus away from the recent all-in efforts.

And there likely needs to be a shift given the team's coinciding struggles on the field.