Early Breakdown of the New York Mets' Best Trade Bait

The 2015 MLB season has reached May, but it's never too early to begin speculation about what kinds of trades the Mets could make to improve the team a little more.

With the way their season has started, the Mets will very likely be buyers this season before the trade deadline. There are not too many needs on the team right now, but with various injuries that have either already happened or could happen in the future, having extra depth would be helpful.

Major League Trade Bait

The Mets do not have that much trade bait on their major league roster. The only real options seem to be among catchers, second basemen and starting pitching.

Travis d'Arnaud's finger injury resulted in top catching prospect Kevin Plawecki getting called up earlier than expected. When d'Arnaud is healthy again, Plawecki could get sent back down to Triple-A Las Vegas, but could also become trade bait later in the season if the Mets find the right deal in which to move him. Plawecki has a lot of value as a young catcher and the Mets would likely command a big return to willingly to move him.

With Dilson Herrera's recent promotion and David Wright likely to return soon after suffering a hamstring injury in April, Daniel Murphy could become the odd man out in the Mets' infield. The Mets wouldn't necessarily be desperate to trade Murphy, but could move him if they get a solid package of minor leaguers in return.

Dillon Gee is the one starting pitcher that the Mets could afford to move later in the season, depending on when Noah Syndergaard and/or Steven Matz get called up. Both Syndergaard and Matz should be ready for promotion by June or July, so it will be interesting to see what could happen to Gee, who is the most likely starting pitcher to be removed from the rotation down the road. The Mets will likely try to get prospects in exchange for Gee if they were to move him.

Minor League Trade Bait

The Mets are more likely to use their minor league talent to acquire a big upgrade on their major league roster.

The Mets have a lot of young arms in the minor leagues that could be expendable in the right deals, especially when considering all of the young arms they have in the major leagues or those who are close to reaching that level.

One minor league hurler who could be good trade bait is Marcos Molina, who is currently 1-3 with a 3.33 ERA in five starts for Class A St. Lucie. Molina is currently ranked as the  No. 8 Mets prospect, according to MLB.com.

Gabriel Ynoa of Class AA Binghamton is another prospect who could become trade bait. He is 2-1 with a 3.97 ERA in four starts and is ranked as the Mets' No. 14 prospect.

The Mets' No. 15 prospect, Michael Fulmer, is yet another young, right-handed pitcher who could be useful trade bait for the Mets. Fulmer is 0-0 with a 4.50 ERA in two starts between Class A St. Lucie and Class AA Binghamton.

One or a package of those arms could be used by the Mets to trade for an upgrade at shortstop, among other upgrades on the major league roster.

There is no guarantee that the Mets will make any big trades soon but, if something were to happen, one of these players will likely be involved.

Minor league statistics shown are courtesy of MiLB.com.