Do the New York Mets have a championship-caliber rotation? It’s a question that’s garnering increasing attention as Opening Day nears with two of their starters on the shelf.
Sean Manaea (strained right oblique) and Frankie Montas (high-grade lat strain in pitching shoulder) will begin the season on the injured list. Manaea is making progress and is expected back in mid- to late April, while Montas most likely won’t take the mound for the Mets until late May or June.
With these injuries and 2023 All-Star Kodai Senga not ready for Opening Day — though he should make a start during the first rotation cycle — manager Carlos Mendoza surprisingly named Clay Holmes as the Opening Day starter against the Houston Astros. Holmes, a two-time All-Star reliever with the New York Yankees, hasn’t started a game since his rookie season in 2018 with the Pittsburgh Pirates.
It wouldn’t be surprising if the Mets make a trade deadline addition to bolster their rotation, but the question remains: which prospects should the team be willing to part with? A team analyst has weighed in with some pointed opinions.
New York Mets analyst reveals who he would give up for Sandy Alcantara
In an interview with Sportsnaut’s “The Deferrals” baseball podcast, Mets On SI contributor and “Mets Daily” host Jake Brown revealed which prospects New York should consider trading to the Miami Marlins for 2022 National League Cy Young winner Sandy Alcantara.
“Alcantara is very intriguing to me, and I don’t think the Marlins would ask for a boatload in terms of prospects, so it depends what they ask for,” said Brown.
Brown then detailed his prospect hierarchy, drawing clear lines between untouchables and trade chips.
“I don’t want to trade [Ronny] Mauricio, I don’t want to trade [Ryan] Clifford. I am cool with trading Jett Williams — I’m in the minority in that. I would walk Brett Baty to the airport; I just don’t think he has any value.”
He continued with perhaps his most controversial take.
“I do not want to trade [Luisangel] Acuna. I know a lot of Mets fans say you’re dumb. I think he will become a star in this league. I don’t care what the analytics show, I think he has that ‘it factor’ about him, that swagger about him, and his brother is Ronald Acuna, so I factor that in as well.”
Alcantara missed the entire 2024 season with the Marlins after undergoing Tommy John surgery. He’s owed $34.6 million through 2026 and has a $21 million club option for 2027. Despite the injury risk, his track record as an elite workhorse before surgery makes him a tantalizing target.
If Alcantara returns to form and stays healthy, he could transform a currently questionable Mets rotation into a legitimate championship-caliber unit – precisely what they’ll need to capitalize on their Juan Soto investment and make a serious October push.
