New York Mets trade rumors in 2024 have already begun, and they're not the good kind. Even with fairly modest expectations heading into the season, the Mets have found a way to underperform. The silver lining is that if the Mets can get to .500, they will be in the running for a Wild Card spot. The problem is that they are closer to being 10 games under .500 than they are a .500 team.
Can the Mets make a fire sale this summer?
Given the team's disappointing start to the season, the latest 2024 Mets trade rumors point to a possible sale on the cheap this summer. New York did something similar last year when they traded Max Scherzer, Justin Verlander, and others. Once again, all of the potential Mets trades discussed this year involve trading away pieces rather than adding players for a playoff run.
So, we have to explore the possibility of the Mets blowing everything away and diving deeper into a full rebuild.
Hope in 2024?
With plenty of time left in 2024, there is still hope that the Mets can turn things around. However, hope has been difficult to find so far. Team star Kodai Senga still hasn't played while closer Edwin Diaz doesn't look the same as he returns from injury and returns to the IL. This has forced the Mets to rely on young starters and live with a wildly inconsistent bullpen.
Meanwhile, the Mets suffered from subpar efforts from most of the team's core members. Francisco Lindor doesn't exactly look like one of the greatest shortstops ever, while Pete Alonso's inconsistency has kept him out of the pool of MVP candidates. Both Brandon Nimmo and Jeff McNeil are underperforming based on their career numbers. The Mets have also lacked contributions from younger players, with Francisco Alvarez demoted to the IL and Brett Batty recently.
Even if the Mets turn things around and get back into the playoff race, they don't appear to have the pieces to be a threat in the postseason. This is in line with pre-season expectations. With the Mets performing poorly based on their meager preseason projections, there's not much point in hoping for a surprise turnaround.
What about 2025?
Other than the performance of the team's young players, there's little reason to be optimistic about New York's chances in 2025 without a successful season. Veteran players Jose Quintana and Luis Severino will be free agents, creating holes in the rotation. Some of the team's best relief pitchers, most notably Adam Ottavino, Drew Smith, and Adrian Hauser, are also set for free agency.
Of course, the elephant in the room is Pete Alonso entering free agency as well. While there appears to be mutual interest in Alonso remaining in New York, it is not certain that will ultimately happen. Since his agent is Scott Boras, the Mets can't expect a hometown opponent from Alonso. If he were to sign elsewhere, it would blow a huge hole in the squad and be a huge blow to the morale of the fanbase heading into 2025.
What will the demolition look like?
If the Mets want to tear things down this summer, they could be in a position to add a talent pool to the farm system just like they did last year. Obviously, trading Alonso would be possible but it is a point of contention because it could hinder the team's chances of signing him this offseason.
Regardless of Alonso's predicament, Severino and Quintana would serve as viable trade chips, creating space in the rotation for young starters like Jose Botto and Christian Scott. Ottavino, Smith and Hauser will also generate interest on the trade market.
Other than Alonso, J.D. Martinez and Harrison Bader are also trade chips. The Mets could also explore the possibility of trading Starling Marte and Jeff McNeil, who are under contract after this season but could serve the organization better as trade bait rather than solutions in 2025 and beyond.
Ultimately, the Mets' goal is to build a team that can consistently compete year after year. This does not happen without the backbone of a strong agricultural system. Becoming a seller at the trade deadline would certainly help with that. While it may be disappointing for the fanbase to watch, it may be better for the long-term future of the organization than hoping the Mets get their act together enough to be in the Wild Card race.
