Fansided

5 MLB teams who can (and should) still make trade moves

By Geoffrey Godfrey

PITTSBURGH, PA - JULY 29: Zack Wheeler #45 of the New York Mets delivers a pitch during the game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park on July 29, 2018 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH, PA - JULY 29: Zack Wheeler #45 of the New York Mets delivers a pitch during the game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park on July 29, 2018 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images) /
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PITTSBURGH, PA – JULY 29: Zack Wheeler #45 of the New York Mets delivers a pitch during the game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park on July 29, 2018 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH, PA – JULY 29: Zack Wheeler #45 of the New York Mets delivers a pitch during the game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park on July 29, 2018 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images) /

2. New York Mets

The Mets are maybe the most frustrating team of the year, not just the last 14 days. They have a roster that screams top-three in the NL, and if it all came crashing down, they had enough trade chips to create a super farm system.

Surprise, none of it happened.

With the top-three pitchers they have, they should be much better off with them alone. Not to mention the likes of Jose Bautista, Brandon Nimmo, Wilmer Flores, Todd Frazier, Jay Bruce and, of course, Cespedes. All six of them could be All-Stars and the only people who would be surprised would be Nationals fans, out of hate.

Two teams in here are sellers, this is the second selling team. Now is the time to sell while there is value. Clear cap, load the system and crush 2018 and 2019 free agency.

This is who they should sell, and sell in a big way:

1. Zack Wheeler (SP): He is their third starter. Third. He could be first or second on several teams in the league. (Looking at you Colorado and San Fransisco.) Right now he is 6-6 with just under a 3.30 ERA and 125 K’s. He is a useful, and controllable, pitcher they don’t need. They have several more in the system and could get a nice haul for him.

2. Austin Jackson (OF): Jackson sits around their 5/6th outfielder. At 31 years old, he still has some years left in him. He has speed we know with seven seasons over 10 SB and three seasons with over 20 SB. He has little pop, but does have a lifetime average of .274. Jackson could be a useful utility player or rangey center-fielder for a fringe playoff team, and based on his usage and depth chart location, should be one of the biggest cheap buys around.

3. Kevin Plawecki (C): Ahhh, good ol’ Kevin. The ever-revolving second catcher for the team who can’t find one. While his bat leaves something to be desired in general, he does have average ability behind the dish, and can show some strength with a bat. He will never find home here it seems, so a team looking for a revolving catcher with more upside then he gets credit for should be all over this.

The Mets can go several ways, sell now, be active in free agency, trade-off older guys and depth in the off-season, or sell next year if they miss the playoffs. But, should they choose none of the three, they will never regain the ground they will lose to Atlanta, Philly and Washington. Well, at least not in the near future.

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