The New York Mets are linked to Detroit Tigers ace Eduardo Rodriguez at the MLB trade deadline. Here are three prospects the team could trade.
The New York Mets had the highest payroll in all of baseball entering the 2023 season. The team spent money to bring in Justin Verlander, Kodai Senga, and Jose Quintana to help make a push for their first World Series title since 1986. Instead, the team has vastly underperformed, with their big-name starters in Verlander and Max Scherzer not living up to their resumes, and the bats have been in the middle of the pack so far this season.
For the Mets, even though they are a ways way behind the Atlanta Braves for first place in the division, the National League as a whole is pretty wide open, so there's a chance they could contend for a Wild Card spot. But who could they add at the trade deadline to help them out?
MLB.com insider Mark Feinsand wrote an article listing 10 trade candidates and their potential fits. For Detroit Tigers ace Eduardo Rodriguez, Feinsand lists the Mets as a fit.
"The 30-year-old southpaw is having the finest season of his career, posting a 1.40 ERA over his past nine starts to give him a season-long mark of 2.13," writes Feinsand. "After allowing seven earned runs and three homers in his first 10 innings of 2023, Rodríguez has given up nine earned runs and three long balls over his past 57 2/3 innings, holding hitters to a .519 OPS. E-Rod, who is nearing a rehab assignment after spending most of the month on the IL with a left index finger injury, can opt out of the final three years and $49 million of his contract at the end of the season, making him a likely candidate to be moved."
Even though the Tigers are under .500, they are still a handful of games back of the Minnesota Twins for first place in the dreadful AL Central division. But, it could be in the team's best interest to sell and stock up their farm system. As Feinsand points out, Rodriguez has an opt-out clause at the end of the year, and will likely cash in on a strong season. But, Rodriguez is also sidelined due to a left index finger injury.
With that information, the Mets won't have to give up their top prospects like Kevin Parada or Ronny Mauricio. It wouldn't be smart for the team to do so for a two-month rental. So, who could the Mets trade to acquire Rodriguez? Here are three that could be swapped in a deal.
3 prospects the Mets can trade for Eduardo Rodriguez, No. 3: Jesus Baez, SS/OF
One player who has upside but is nowhere near making a debut in the majors is Jesus Baez, the Mets' international free agent signing in 2022. He is currently listed as the No. 10 prospect in the team's farm system, and his main area of strength is his power. Take a look at what MLB.com wrote about Baez.
"The power potential from the right-handed slugger is no joke, his tremendous raw power is already translating to games. It's best right now on his pullside, where he hit 56.3 percent of his batted balls in 2022, so it's worth wondering how the overall bat will play once more advanced arms try going heavy on the outside part of the plate against Baez. Still, his power is a great building block, and considering he stands just 5-foot-10 and 180 pounds entering his age-18 season, there's hope the slugging ability could grow to plus by the time he's ready for the big leagues."
In the Dominican Summer League last year, Baez slashed .242/.341/.403 and recorded seven home runs, 34 RBI, 36 runs scored, and 45 hits in 54 games (186 at-bats).
Baez is currently playing at the rookie level in the Mets' farm system. Given the backlog of shortstop prospects the team has in Mauricio and Jett Williams, Baez could be blocked. Flipping him for Rodriguez could be the move for New York.
3 prospects the Mets can trade for Eduardo Rodriguez, No. 2: Dominic Hamel, RHP
The New York Mets don't have to give up one of their top five prospects in the pipeline due in part to Eduardo Rodriguez's looming contract situation. But, they can throw in a top-10 prospect. So, how about the Detroit Tigers receive a right-handed starting pitcher with a projection of making it to the majors in 2024 — Dominic Hamel.
Here is what MLB.com writes in Hamel's prospect profile:
"The Arizona native is a favorite of anyone who loves spin rates. His 91-94 mph fastball, which can touch the mid-90s on occasion, plays better than its velocity alone because of its spin and carry up in the zone. A low-80s slider shows special spin rates in the 2,800-3,000 rpm range, and low-level hitters couldn't handle that type of late bite. His mid-70s curveball is also in the upper reaches of the 2,000s for spin rate, but its lack of velo allows it to hang a little longer, making it more of an average offering. A mid-80s fading changeup gives Hamel an option against lefties that breaks the other way from his slider, and he's credited that with improving as he got more experience in pro ball, though it still has some ways to go."
The 2021 third-round pick spent last season with Single-A and Single-A+. In 25 games (24 starts), Hamel recorded a 3.25 ERA, a 1.15 WHIP, a 10-3 win-loss record, 145 strikeouts, and 54 walks in 119.0 innings.
This season with the Double-A Binghamton Rumble Ponies, Hamel posted a 5.62 ERA, a 1.49 WHIP, a 2-4 win-loss record, 64 strikeouts, and 22 walks in 49.2 innings (12 games, 11 starts).
Hamel is the Mets' No. 6 prospect and could be a trade piece for the Mets to acquire a big name at the deadline.
3 prospects the Mets can trade for Eduardo Rodriguez, No. 1: Mark Vientos, 3B
One obvious prospect that could be dealt by the New York Mets is a player who has no spot on the major league roster. That, of course, is Mark Vientos.
The 2017 second-round pick is a third baseman but is currently blocked by fellow prospect Brett Baty. Not to mention, the team still uses veteran Eduardo Escobar as a backup option for third and second bases. Vientos did get called up this season, where was used as an option off the bench, or as a designated hitter. Vientos did get some playing time at first base due to Pete Alonso's wrist injury, where he recorded a 1.000 fielding percentage after recording 22 putouts and two assists in 24 total chances.
At the plate, Vientos recorded a .178 batting average, a .224 on-base percentage, a .244 slugging percentage, one home run, two runs scored, five RBI, and eight hits in 16 games (45 at-bats).
With Alonso returning from his wrist injury quicker than expected, Vientos was sent back down to Triple-A Syracuse.
Vientos doesn't have a spot available to him on the Mets, which is a shame, since he was a highly touted prospect for years. Perhaps a change of scenery would be the best course of action.
