A Mets trade package to land another star if they miss out on Carlos Correa

If the New York Mets miss out on Carlos Correa, they don’t necessarily need to have a backup plan. However, this trade with a division rival could work.

What’s going on with the Mets and Carlos Correa? No one really knows, as we haven’t heard from either side since before the Christmas holiday.

Last we did hear, Correa’s camp wasn’t willing to renegotiate the 12-year, $315 million contract, though they also didn’t want to renege the deal. New York, meanwhile, still has concerns over Correa’s physical, and a minor-league injury to his leg.

It’s the same issue the San Francisco Giants had on Correa which eventually led to an untimely breakup just prior to the official union of these two parties. If Correa doesn’t work out with the Mets, who knows where he’ll turn next?

But this is Steve Cohen, which means the Mets surely must have a backup plan.

Should the New York Mets trade for Rafael Devers?

Truth be told, the Mets don’t really need a shortstop. Francisco Lindor is penciled into that position for the next decade. If Correa were acquired, he would likely play third base, similar to how Javy Baez played second base alongside Lindor after he was traded from Chicago to New York at the 2021 deadline.

Any trade for Rafael Devers would cost a fortune — not Juan Soto-worthy, but close — and New York must be ready to fork over their top prospects and a hefty contract to the now-Red Sox star. So, what would it cost?

Sorry, Red Sox fans, even Devers won’t be enough to pry Francisco Alvarez from Cohen. The No. 1 prospect in all of baseball is off-limits. Baty, however, is near-MLB ready and can take over at third base for Devers. Parada is another top-100 prospect, and serves as a catcher of the future in Boston.

Jose Butto can pitch in the beleaguered Sox bullpen right away, if necessary.

New York could also be willing to take back Chris Sale — and a good portion of his salary — in return if the Red Sox drop the asking price slightly. The luxury tax is meaningless to Cohen, as he’s already proven by going in on Correa.