Mets: 3 trade deadline targets New York should avoid
By Drew Koch
2. New York Mets trade candidate to avoid: Nelson Cruz
It’s unlikely that the New York Mets would want to do business with a division rival in the first place, but desperate times call for desperate measures. However, the Mets are not that desperate for a right-handed bat that they need to make a deal for Washington Nationals’ DH Nelson Cruz.
The Nats are in free fall and will be seller at the trade deadline. While Washington’s GM Mike Rizzo has stated that Juan Soto will not be available, there’s every reason to believe that almost every other player on the Nationals’ roster will be. This includes the ageless wonder, Nelson Cruz.
Cruz, who got off to a cold start, has been rounding into form as of late. The soon-to-be 42-year-old signed a one-year deal with the Nationals this past spring with a mutual option for the 2023 season.
Over his last 20 games, Cruz has posted an OPS of .896 with seven extra bases hits and nine RBIs. Cruz will gather some attention from opposing GMs at the trade deadline. But hitting has not been the issue with the Mets this season. Except for Tomas Nido, every New York regular has an OPS+ above 90.
Nelson Cruz may well get hot as the summer heats up, but the seven-time All-Star is also limited defensively. Cruz is exclusively a designated hitter, and while the DH is now part of the NL, the New York Mets have enough players who can fill the role of DH while also playing the field.