Following a disappointing series in Miami (how many times have Mets fans heard that statement) it’s difficult to place exactly where the Mets are going to be at the deadline. I find it hard to get a lot of information out of this Miami series since they’ve hit the ball extremely well, just to less than stellar results. The 4 game series coming up against Atlanta at home will likely be the indicator of whether or not this team is a true contender. However I believe the Mets will be buyers regardless of the next week, the veterans have been clear they think this team is worth investing in, Cohen has reportedly been extremely happy that this team has worked it’s way into contention and is willing to invest, and Stearns knows how to do that without breaking the bank or selling off the farm. This article will be an overview of what I personally believe are 5 likely moves for the Mets to make at this deadline. If you’re looking for a more unhinged and off the walls trade deadline preview, stay tuned as I will be publishing a “6 delusional Mets Deadline Deals” tomorrow evening. You’re not going to see many top prospects being moved, and nothing here is going to be particularly flashy. My argument is that the Mets don’t need to be, smaller deals are exactly what they should be looking for, with my eyes set on a couple of relivers, a back end starter, and an outfield option. I also put a lot, like a lot of reunions in here, that just is how things lined up. All of these picks were made with the belief that they're in the best interest of the team, and something I could realistically see Stearns doing. Now that I’ve explained what type of deals we’re looking at, let’s get into the 5 I’ve come up with in order to help improve the Mets playoff chances at the deadline

1. John Brebbia (RHP) and Tommy Pham (OF) for Ronald Hernandez (C, NYM #21) and cash considerations

I mentioned the Mets needing relievers and an outfielder, so how about killing two birds with one stone? Brebbia is having a down year posting a 5.12 ERA over 43 appearances while Tommy Pham is having a fairly average campaign with a triple slash of .270/.341/.377 sporting a 105 OPS+. The White Sox are very likely to be sellers and while others have pointed out Michael Kopech as a potential add for the Met including former GM Zach Scott, I greatly prefer Brebbia.

Why do I like it?

Brebbia has been an above average relief pitcher every season of his career up until this point, outside of 2021. While sporting an ERA+ of 81 this season Brebbia has a walk rate of 2.1 walks per 9 innings, which would be second on the Mets behind Dedniel Nunez at 1.9. You’ll come to notice very quickly that walks are a key issue I’m looking to address, and Kopech, the other name being thrown around has a walk rate of 5 walks per 9. Brebbia also has experience closing out games, giving the Mets a late inning option on days where Diaz is unavailable and keeping them from overworking Nunez and Butto. He would come with a mutual option for 2025, allowing the Mets an opportunity to bring him back next season erasing at least one question mark from the offseason bullpen restructure.

A Tommy Pham reunion is certainly an interesting conversation to be had. I take it that most Met fans are looking for a lefty outfield option, however I don’t personally have a preference. I don’t expect bringing him in to cost a whole lot as he’s having a significantly less stellar year than his 2023 campaign, where the Mets were unable to get an Arizona Top 30 prospect for him. I also feel that Pham will ramp up his numbers playing for a team that’s playing meaningful baseball. In spite of his comments that the Mets were “The least hardworking group of players” that he’d played with, Mets owner Steve Cohen has gone out of his way to defend Pham as a member of the organization and Francisco Lindor credits Pham as helping him be more focused and accountable when it comes to preparing for games. The real question is how the fans, and other members of the clubhouse may feel about Pham returning. I personally love the idea of someone who actively wants their teammates to work harder in the clubhouse, along with having playoff experience and having proven last year that he can perform in New York.

Ronald Hernandez the Mets #21 prospect according to MLB.com is who I’d be sending over in this deal. Outside of their number #4 prospect Edgar Quero the White Sox don’t have any other catchers in their top 30, and the Mets appear set with Francisco Alvarez and hopefully with time, Kevin Parada. Hernandez is only 20 and has shown a great eye at the plate in the lower minor leagues, and helps to bolster a White Sox farm system that could greatly use the help.

2. Michael Conforto (OF) and Tyler Rogers (RHP) for Jacob Reimer (3B/1B, NYM #14) and Alex Ramirez (OF, NYM #15)

I promise the next trade will be the last one involving a former Met, and this trade is the last one involving multiple players coming in. Tyler Rogers has just been a massively steady reliever for the Giants for years in spite of no all star nods and would greatly improve this Mets bullpen on arrival. Meanwhile Michael Conforto gets a chance to put a better ending on his Mets career than how things were left in 2021, while improving this Mets lineup and filling in the current revolving door that is right field.

Why do I like it?

Tyler Rogers is great and I’d flat out do this trade just for him. Outside of the shortened season in 2020 his complete season ERA has never been above 4. He pitches night in and night out leading the NL in reliever appearances in 2021 and currently leading all of MLB in that stat so far this season. And the walk numbers, oh thank God the walk numbers. His season average is currently a gorgeous 0.6 walks per 9 innings, and his career walks per 9 is below 2. I cannot stress how big of a get this would be for this bullpen and having your 7th. 8th, and 9th inning guys be Nunez, Rogers, and Diaz would be extremely strong. I’m not confident how willing the Giants will be to shop Rogers as he does have another year of control on his contract and they may want to keep him around, nor do I know how much they may want for him. In terms of “Big” relief help that I think is doable for the Mets without giving up a top 10 prospect, Rogers is the guy I’m eyeing.

As for Conforto, bring him home. I think there’s been this lingering idea that Michael Conforto was a bust, and never really put things together for the Mets. I’d like to say that, I personally just disagree. Conforto was a huge part of the Mets playoff push and World Series run in 2015, and was arguably an even bigger contributor in their 2019 playoff push that sadly they fell short on. His season OPS+ has only ever been below 100 once in his career, and no it wasn’t 2021, it was his sophomore season in 2016. He has a really solid arm in right field, is a guy that has performed to All-Star levels in New York before, gives the Mets a lefty outfield bat with some pop and pairs him back up with Brandon Nimmo to make a playoff push together, and I personally really like that. Conforto hasn’t exactly lit the world up in his time with San Francisco, but he has significantly better splits on the road than he does at home. Throughout his Mets career while their were some inconsistencies, he was generally speaking a better hitter at Citi Field than on the road. He already sports a reasonable 111 OPS+ on the season and I would expect that number to rise if he returned to Flushing, I know many who wouldn’t be in favor of this reunion but for what the Mets need right now I think it makes a lot of sense.

Now unfortunately in order to get strong bullpen help and a potentially starting outfielder, you’re going to need to be willing to give up some decent names however I think this trade makes a lot of sense for the Mets. Alex Ramirez, their #15 prospect according to MLB.com has been a work in progress for quite some time, and while he’s still developing, he’s only 21 years old with a lot of upside including a strong arm and being a threat on the base paths. He’s significantly closer to being MLB ready than Rayner Arias, the Giants highest ranked outfielder prospect, and is someone I think the Mets can afford to move on from. Jacob Reimer was a lot more difficult for me to throw into this deal, but considering the Giants complete lack of third base prospects in their top 30 and the Mets feeling good about Mark Vientos (With Brett Baty still in the system). I think that packaging him with Ramirez would do enough to get this deal over the line. I’d be willing to add on to this deal, as it’s my personal favorite of these 5, but I would avoid giving up any more prospects within the Mets top 30.

3. Kevin Pillar (OF) for Boston Baro (SS, NYM #24)

Alright, last potential reunion and the one I have the least emotional attachment to. I personally had no interest in seeing Kevin Pillar back in a Mets jersey, not for any personal reasons I actually quite like him, but I just didn’t see value in him anymore even when the Mets signed him in 2021. Pillar however is having a career year at the plate, and would provide the Mets with a veteran 4th outfielder option that’s played in October.

Why do I like it?

Kevin Pillar currently has an OPS+ of 122. 35 year old Kevin Pillar in 2024, has an OPS+ of 122. I don’t see this move as being particularly expensive to make and considering Pillar is a veteran with lots of experience, a solid glove even if not the outfield talent he was in his younger years, and somebody who has already played in New York, it just seems like a simple outfield grab to bolster your depth and give yourself options that aren’t Ben Gamel or DJ Stewart. The biggest problem is that he’s a righty, not a lefty, but once again I personally don’t view this as a be all end all issue.

Baro is only 19 years old and with a Mets farm system that’s loaded with shortstops I personally don’t mind getting rid of him for somebody who could help the team now. I think giving the Angels a top 30 prospect for Pillar is fairly generous and I’m inclined to believe that this deal is fair for both sides. He’s someone I certainly think the Angels could develop into an MLB talent over time, and I think he’d place quite nicely in their prospect rankings once they’re adjusted post trade deadline.

4. Derek Law (RHP) for Ty Adcock (RHP) and Shintaro Fujinami (RHP)

Derek Law is probably not the first name that Mets fans are looking at when it comes to a potential in division trade with the Nats. Finnegan, Floro, and Winker, all have been thrown around quite a bit. I could probably write a full article on why Winker isn’t a target of mine (it’s nothing to do with his personality if anything I think he’s a great fit for New York). And Finnegan and Floro in my eyes will likely cost more than Law, who I think is being heavily overlooked.

Why do I like it?

Derek Law has really found himself as a reliver these past two seasons and relief pitcher is actually a position where its very possible to improve with age. He’s having a career year in terms of his walk numbers, sporting 2.6 walks per 9 innings, something I will continue to emphasize for bullpen and rotation help the Mets might be after. He also has a year of control left on his contract, giving the Mets an extra member for their 2025 bullpen and having one less move to think about in the offseason.

Ty Adcock is only 27 and in spite of really struggling with the Mets this season did show signs of life with Seattle in 2023, and comes with loads of control. Fujinami is someone I think could be turned into a brilliant reliver, but I’m not personally interested in being the one to figure that out. His stuff is too all over the place and I’m perfectly willing to let the Nats take a crack at working on his stuff in order to get a relief pitcher that can help us down the stretch in 2024 and next season in 2025.

5. Zach Eflin (RHP) for Tyler Stuart (RHP, NYM #17) and Joander Suarez (RHP, NYM #28)

Even with the return of Kodai Senga, I think it’s in the Mets best interest to bring in another starter. I’ve made it pretty clear I like guys who avoid giving up walks, and Zach Eflin fits right into that. I’ve placed this at the bottom of my list for a variety of reasons. I have no idea what Tampa is going to do at the deadline, I don’t know where they value Eflin, and I don’t know if the Mets even have him on their radar. I do however, and I think my offer is quite reasonable.

Why do I like it?

Zach Eflin is just a solid backend starter and I like him a lot. He avoids the walks having a career average of 1.9 walks per 9 innings, he’s consistent even if his numbers won’t immediately jump out at you as stellar, and he has a year of control left on his contract, which would really help out this Mets rotation that could currently take a variety of shapes in 2025. I think his value as it a point where you could get him for less than he’s probably worth, and I think the Rays would be willing to deal him (should they be sellers) for the right price.

I’ve chosen 2 pitching prospects to send over to the Rays because their pitching lab just loves turning guys into aces, and neither Stuart or Suarez are particular favorite Met pitching prospects of mine. I think giving Tampa 2 of our top 30 prospects for a pitcher who currently has a below average ERA+ is more than reasonable, and I think Efflin is the exact sort of low risk high reward starter that this rotation could use down the stretch.

Thank you as always for reading! Please take advantage of the comment box down below to tell me your thoughts and your possible trade proposals! I’d also really appreciate if you subscribed as it’s free and helps me out quite a bit. No long wait for the next article, I’ll see you all tomorrow! Hopefully I can sort out my full time schedule and notify you all once I have. Thank you once again, and Let’s Go Mets!