Mets obvious next move to make is far from a sure thing

The New York Mets opened the MLB trade deadline floodgates by shipping Max Scherzer to the Texas Rangers. What’s next? 

The New York Mets are officially sellers ahead of the Aug. 1 MLB Trade Deadline. Billy Eppler sent three-time Cy Young winner Max Scherzer to the Texas Rangers in exchange for Luisangel Acuña, the Double-A prospect who happens to share parentage with Braves superstar Ronald Acuña Jr.

As the Mets pivot toward financial flexibility and youth, it’s not hard to decipher the logical next step: trade Justin Verlander, who is even older and more expensive than Scherzer was. The 40-year-old (who also has three Cy Young awards on his résumé) is due $43.3 million next season with a $35 million vested option for the 2025 season.

Plenty of teams would be eager to add Verlander’s arm to the top of their rotation, but fans should temper expectations. According to Mark Feinsand of MLB.com, one league source believes the Mets will “hold on to Verlander.”

New York Mets expected to hold on to Justin Verlander at MLB trade deadline

“Somebody still has to pitch in 2024,” the source told Feinsand. It’s a simple enough reason. The Mets’ pitching staff has been largely underwhelming, in part due to Scherzer and Verlander performing below expectations.

Verlander has been palatable for the most part, but a 5-5 record with a 3.24 ERA isn’t exactly shattering $43.3 million projections. The Mets are six games below .500 and 18.0 games out of first place in the ultra-competitive NL East. It doesn’t make a ton of sense, on the surface, to keep Verlander around when the opportunity to cash in exists.

That said, the Mets could look to make a swift return to contention next summer. New York is a big market with aspirations on the Shohei Ohtani front. It would be easier to lure big-name free agents with a star of Verlander’s caliber already under contract.

Frankly, it’s easier to buy Verlander’s return path to elite production more than Scherzer’s at this point, even with Verlander’s more advanced age. He was the Cy Young winner last season. He posted the best ERA of his career during the Astros’ World Series run and he can still sling his fastball in the high-90s.

Verlander, like Scherzer, has a full no-trade clause and would have to approve any destination. The Mets have made no effort to communicate with Verlander about potential trades. The lack of communication suggests that both sides are content with the marriage lasting beyond Aug. 1, especially if the Mets can acquire assets for other veteran trade chips like Tommy Pham.