New York Mets generating buzz before MLB trade deadline, teams reportedly eyeing specific players

New York Mets rumors — Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

The New York Mets were the biggest seller at the 2023 MLB trade deadline. One year later, MLB rumors are making it pretty clear that New York is poised to repeat history at the MLB trade deadline this summer.

New York is way down in the MLB standings, falling out of contention and dealing with a myriad of issues. A season removed from trading away the likes of Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander, the Mets front office seems to be the talk of the league with a belief there will be another firesale.

MLB trade deadline date: July 30

The Mets explored a Pete Alonso trade last summer, engaging in talks with the Milwaukee Brewers and other clubs. While New York ultimately kept its All-Star slugger, Alonso is a strong candidate to be moved this summer by the team. However, he’s far from the only player on the Mets roster believed to be among the top MLB trade candidates in 2024.

According to Jon Heyman of the New York Post, rival MLB general managers are “especially interested” in the Mets roster and what their front office intends to do this summer. While New York doesn’t have a ton of blue-chip talent available, it’s depth of contributors from starting pitchers to bench bats and relievers is enticing.

Beyond Alonso, who has been floated in MLB trade rumors for weeks, Heynam names J.D. Martinez, Harrison Bader, Starling Marte, Luis Severino, José Quintana, Sean Manaea, Jake Diekman, Adam Ottavino, Reed Garrett and Sean-Reid Foley among the Mets trade candidates.

Importantly, money will play a role in who the Mets move at the MLB trade deadline and what they receive in return. Marte’s contract ($20.75 million annual salary in 2024 and ’25) is untradeable without New York attaching money to a deal. The Mets might also have to attach money to Alonso’s deal ($20.5 million salary) to increase the return it receives.

The amount of interest in the Mets roster around the league is evident and New York has proven it is willing to swing major deals and include cash to strengthen the trade package it receives in return. While the Mets likely won’t get the quality of prospects they received in deals at the MLB trade deadline last year, New York is still well-positioned to improve the depth of its farm system by flipping veterans for prospects.