New York Mets Trade Rumors: Tracking Hot Updates, News and Reaction
As the New York Mets attempt to get back to the postseason for the first time since 2006, they will likely try to make some moves in order to improve their chances of making the playoffs.
There's no doubt what the team's biggest need is: offense. The pitching staff, especially the rotation, is rock solid. It's the type of staff that can make some noise in October—but it needs an offense to help it get there first.
New York has some pieces that it can dangle in order to bring in some offense. With the team right in the thick of the playoff race, the front office needs to be aggressive in order to make a run at October this season.
Keep coming back throughout July to see what rumors the Mets are involved in and what deals they make before the trade deadline passes.
*All stats are via MLB.com.
Done Deals
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July 24: Acquired Juan Uribe and Kelly Johnson from the Atlanta Braves in exchange for RHP John Gant and RHP Rob Whalen
July 27: Acquired RHP Tyler Clippard and cash from the Oakland Athletics in exchange for RHP Casey Meisner
July 31: Acquired OF Yoenis Cespedes from the Detroit Tigers in exchange for RHP Michael Fulmer and RHP Luis Cessa.
July 31: Acquire Yoenis Cespedes from the Tigers
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The New York Mets have acquired outfielder Yoenis Cespedes from the Detroit Tigers in exchange for right-handers Michael Fulmer and Luis Cessa.
After the Carlos Gomez deal fell apart earlier in the week, the Mets had to work quickly in order to acquire a big bat that they desperately needed. They reportedly tried to get Jay Bruce from the Cincinnati Reds, but no deal was able to be reached. As a result, they had to look elsewhere once again.
Just minutes before the trade deadline, the Mets got Cespedes.
Cespedes has been solid in his first season with the Tigers, hitting .293 with 48 extra-base hits (18 home runs), 61 RBI and a .829 OPS over 102 games. While New York may have preferred to find someone with a high on-base percentage, they found a hitter who will provide a big boost to the lineup.
New York's outfield situation just got a little bit interesting, as the club has no true center fielder—assuming Juan Lagares moves to the bench. The 34-year-old Curtis Granderson will likely shift over to center.
The 29-year-old outfielder is making $10.5 million this season and is in the final year of his contract.
Per MLB.com, Fulmer (No. 7) and Cessa (No. 16) were among the best prospects in the Mets' farm system.
It may have been a steep price for what could turn out to be a rental player. However, with a chance to make the postseason (and perhaps a deep run into October), New York had to do something to improve its offense.
Carlos Gomez Deal Reportedly Won't Happen
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Update: Thursday, July 30 at 12:15 a.m. ET
Sources tell Fox Sports' Ken Rosenthal that the issue wasn't with Zack Wheeler's surgically repaired elbow, but that the Mets backed away due to concern over a hip issue with Carlos Gomez.
--End of Update--
Just when it looked like the Mets were going to get the big bat they desperately needed, something went wrong.
New York was set to get outfielder Carlos Gomez from the Milwaukee Brewers in exchange for right-hander Zack Wheeler and shortstop Wilmer Flores to Milwaukee, according to Joel Sherman of the New York Post. Now, ESPN's Adam Rubin reported that Sandy Alderson said that the trade will not happen.
The outfielder is hitting .266 with eight home runs, 20 doubles and one triple this season. Last season, he was an MVP candidate, hitting .284 with 23 home runs, 34 doubles, four triples and 73 RBI.
Gomez is a legitimate star in this league when healthy—which makes him a bargain. He is making $8 million this year and is owed $9 million next year. The Brewers decided that they probably weren't going to be able to re-sign him after his current deal expires, so they looked into trading him.
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July 27: Acquire RHP Tyler Clippard from A's
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The New York Mets have acquired reliever Tyler Clippard and cash from the Oakland Athletics in exchange for minor-league pitcher Casey Meisner.
Clippard has posted a 2.79 ERA and a 1.190 WHIP in 37 outings in his first season with Oakland. His strikeouts per nine (8.8) and walks per nine (4.9) are each significantly worse than his career averages.
This season, the veteran reliever is holding left-handers to a .100 average and right-handers to a .247 average.
Of course, the Mets are very familiar with Clippard. The right-hander spent the previous seven seasons with the Washington Nationals, posting a 2.68 ERA and a 1.047 WHIP in 414 games. He has a 3.26 ERA and a 0.750 WHIP in 28 career innings at Citi Field.
Clippard is making $8.3 million this season and will be a free agent after the season.
New York is being aggressive in trying to make moves that will help it reach the postseason. Closer Jeurys Familia has been great this year, and now, the club have a great one-two punch at the back of the bullpen.
July 24: Acquire Juan Uribe and Kelly Johnson from Braves
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The New York Mets have acquired Juan Uribe and Kelly Johnson from the Atlanta Braves, according to CBS Sports' Jon Heyman. Heyman also reported that the Mets will be sending right-hander John Gant and right-hander Rob Whalen to the Braves.
Uribe has slashed .285/.353/.464 in 46 games with the Braves and has hit seven home runs and six doubles. Overall this season, he has hit .272 with eight home runs and eight doubles in 75 games. Going from the Los Angeles Dodgers to Atlanta certainly seemed to help his numbers.
The 36-year-old Uribe can also play any of the infield positions if needed.
As for Johnson, the utility man is hitting .275 with nine home runs and five doubles in 62 games this season. Like Uribe, Johnson is in the final year of his contract.
New York has been in desperate need of offense. While there are certainly bigger bats available, the Mets have taken a step in improving a struggling offense. Without knowing David Wright's availability this season, the team needed to do something to address the position.
This wasn't the splashiest move, but the Mets needed to do something in order to improve the offense.
Potential Trade Target: OF Marlon Byrd
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The Mets may target Cincinnati Reds outfielder Marlon Byrd, according to CBS Sports' Jon Heyman.
Byrd is hitting .242 with 16 home runs, nine doubles and two triples this season.
New York is looking to improve its offense, specifically by adding a big bat to the outfield. If the price tags for some of the bigger names are deemed too high, the club could turn to Byrd.
Potential Trade Target: OF Justin Upton
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Update: Saturday, July 25 at 2:45 p.m. ET
The Mets and the Padres have discussed a possible trade involving Upton, but New York has balked at the asking price, according to CBS Sports' Jon Heyman.
Per Heyman, San Diego is asking for one or two top prospects and is currently unwilling to add in money to help pay for the remainder of the outfielder's contract.
--End of Update--
Should the San Diego Padres decide to sell at the deadline, outfielder Justin Upton would be attractive to New York.
He is hitting .253 with 14 home runs, 10 doubles, one triple and 48 RBI. Those numbers come one year after he hit 29 home runs, 34 doubles and two triples.
While playing in a spacious park may hurt some hitters' numbers, Upton hasn't been affected by Petco Park too much. In his first season with San Diego, he is hitting .306 with 11 home runs at home—compared to .208 and three home runs on the road.
The Mets may be slightly concerned by the slugger's home-road splits. However, he has shown that he can adjust to a spacious ballpark. Upton is a career .266 hitter in 30 games at Citi Field and has hit two home runs at the stadium.
According to CBS Sports' Jon Heyman, Padres personnel have been scouting the Mets' farm system.
Potential Trade Target: OF Will Venable
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Jon Morosi of Fox Sports reported that the Mets are interested in San Diego Padres outfielder Will Venable.
Venable has slashed .247/.314/.390 in 80 games this season and has six home runs, eight doubles and three triples.
The 32-year-old is just two seasons removed from a breakout year, when he slugged 22 home runs, 22 doubles and eight triples in 2013. However, he has yet to reproduce those numbers.
The Mets would like to acquire someone who could improve the offense but not cost much to acquire, either in players or salary. Venable is in the final year of his contract and is making $4.25 million.
Trade Candidate: LHP Jonathon Niese
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Update from Sunday, July 19 at 3 p.m. ET
According to Mike Puma of the New York Post, the Mets are "not anxious" to trade Niese.
--End of Update--
With rotation full of talented arms, the Mets could make Jonathon Niese available and see what kind of return he could bring.
The 28-year-old has posted a 3.61 ERA and a 1.376 WHIP in 17 starts. The left-hander has struggled with consistency a bit this year. He did not allow more than one earned run in any of his first three starts, recorded just two quality starts in his next seven and has since recorded seven straight quality starts.
The good news for the Mets is that he's pitching well during a time they can use him as a trade chip.
Although Niese may not be the top pitcher on the market, he would draw some interest. Fox Sports' Ken Rosenthal reported that the Dodgers have already shown interest in Niese.
Are Mets and Brewers Working on a Deal?
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Looking for help on offense, New York is talking to one of the market's true sellers.
According to Fox Sports' Jon Morosi, the Mets and the Milwaukee Brewers have talked about possible trades involving Milwaukee's Jean Segura.
The Mets are certainly going to explore the market for a shortstop. While the 25-year-old is hitting .274, he has just 12 extra-base hits in 71 games this season. Last year, he had just 25 extra-base hits in 146 games.
Segura doesn't have much pop in his bat, but his speed allows him to essentially turn singles into doubles. He has 83 stolen bases in 408 career games.
The shortstop could be a part of the Mets' future if they acquire him. Segura has yet to hit arbitration, so he is under club control for the next few years.
Potential Trade Target: UT Ben Zobrist
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Looking to improve their offense, the Mets have checked in on Oakland Athletics utility man Ben Zobrist, according to CBS Sports' Jon Heyman.
Zobrist has slashed .261/.346/.429 in 58 games and has hit five home runs, 17 doubles and one triple. While the Mets could certainly use a player with some pop, a batter with a high on-base percentage who can hit it to the gaps isn't a bad fit for Citi Field.
The 34-year-old already plays in a spacious ballpark out in Oakland. He has a .278 average at home this year, which shows he doesn't let a big ballpark get into his head.
With his bat and versatility in the field, he would be a good fit for New York.
Zobrist is making $7.5 million in 2015 and will be a free agent after this season. There will be a lot of interest in the utility man, so if the Mets want him, they will have to be aggressive.
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