MLB rumors: This trade could finally land Mets an elite third baseman

This is what it will take for the New York Mets to acquire an elite third baseman at the deadline.

One area where the New York Mets could look to use an upgrade ahead of the 2021 MLB trade deadline is at the hot corner.

According to MLB Insider Andy Martino, the Mets have begun preliminary talks about potentially acquiring third basemen Josh Donaldson from the Minnesota Twins. Donaldson played in the NL East most recently with the rival Atlanta Braves in 2019. While Kris Bryant could end up on the trading block as well if the Chicago Cubs start to fade, here is how the Mets can land Donaldson.

What do the Mets need to give up to get Donaldson in a blockbuster deal by the end of the month?

New York Mets: How they can acquire an elite third baseman at the deadline

Donaldson is in his second season of a four-year deal with the Twins. He will not be hitting free agency until 2024 ahead of his age-38 season. This would be a multi-year move for the Mets, so they will have to give up something significant to potentially make this deal work.

Look for J.D. Davis to go Minnesota’s way, as well as mid-level, top-20 prospect in the Mets organization.

If the Twins want an arm, they might want to have someone like right-hander Ryley Gilliam be part of the trade. Should Minnesota fancy a position player, they might covet a player like second baseman/outfielder Carlos Cortes. They are teammates in Double-A Binghamton with an estimated time of arrival at the big-league level later this season. What if Minnesota wants more?

New York has the time and the resources to pull off a blockbuster trade to go trade for Donaldson.