Mets-Kris Bryant trade talks dead for now, but don’t rule out midseason blockbuster
By John Buhler
The New York Mets have improved a lot this offseason, but they will be even better if they traded for Chicago Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant.
It will not come cheap, but the New York Mets need to break the bank and trade for Kris Bryant.
Trade talks may have stalled for the Chicago Cubs third baseman, but that does not mean the Mets need to stop their pursuit of him. New owner Steve Cohen has made it a point to be a big spender, or at least until the GameStop and Reddit combo may have slowed that down for him. Regardless, adding a player of Bryant’s caliber could make the Mets the new NL East favorites.
However, payroll factors are coming into play that could influence any potential deal more than prospects or the price to trade for the former MVP. According to SNY, the Mets’ payroll is nearing $200 million after the signing of Taijuan Walker and the $210 million luxury tax is why a trade is unlikely at the moment.
Should the Mets forget about worrying about the luxury tax and go all-in for Bryant to try and win a World Series?
Despite not qualifying for the postseason with an expanded field last season, the Mets did enough this winter to climb up into the top five of the National League. On paper, the Mets should be good enough to reach the playoffs as a wild card team, at least.
The trade for Francisco Lindor was a blockbuster move to pair with Pete Alonso in the lineup and with Jacob deGrom, Marcus Stroman and Noah Syndergaard returning from injury, the Mets have the makings of a potential World Series contender. It’s why PECOTA projects the Mets to win the NL East with 95 wins.
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As constructed, the Mets likely will have to look up at the Braves, the Los Angeles Dodgers, the San Diego Padres and the St. Louis Cardinals in the NL standings. New York has a great pitching staff, but would not be favored in the NL Wild Card Game vs. presumptively San Diego.
By trading for Bryant, the Mets could usurp the Braves atop the NL East to face the Cardinals instead and become legit contenders to win the pennant.
The Mets’ roster would look totally different, but a trade for Bryant would be worth it in the end.