Could bitter National League East rivals Philadelphia Phillies and New York Mets come together to make a trade that helps both teams?
While rare, they have worked together on trades before, the last one being in July 2019 when the Mets sent pitcher Jason Vargas to the Phillies for minor league catcher Austin Bossart.
They’ve even made significant deals in the past:
- In July 2001, the Mets traded relievers Turk Wendell and Dennis Cook to Philadelphia for starter Bruce Chen and minor league pitcher Adam Walker.
- In June 1989, the Mets sent outfielder Lenny Dykstra and relievers Roger McDowell and Tom Edens for All-Star second baseman Juan Samuel.
- And in December 1974, the Phillies acquired future World Series champion closer Tug McGraw, along with Don Hahn and Dave Schneck for Del Unser, John Stearns, and Mac Scarce.
This trade proposal floated by an MLB insider might not live up to those deals but could be beneficial nonetheless.
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MLB insider: Phillies trade pitcher Taijuan Walker to Mets for outfielder Starling Marte
The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Scott Lauber offered a trade proposal: the Phillies trading pitcher Taijuan Walker to the Mets for outfielder Starling Marte.
Even though Lauber believes this deal would never happen, it does make sense. The Mets need rotation help as both Frankie Montas and Sean Manaea will be on the injured list to begin the season, and the Phillies need a right-handed outfield bat with Weston Wilson out and Johan Rojas nursing a bum right shoulder.
Walker, whom the Phillies signed away from the Mets ahead of the 2023 season to a four-year, $72 million deal, doesn’t have a spot in the rotation after the Phillies traded for Jesus Luzardo and with Andrew Painter coming up this summer. Walker had a disastrous 2024, losing his starting spot and pitching to a 7.10 ERA in 19 games. He’s been left off the Phillies’ postseason roster the last two seasons and is owed $36 million in the last two years of his deal. During his two seasons in Queens, he threw 316 1/3 innings with a 3.98 ERA and made the All-Star team in 2021.
As for Marte, he is the fourth outfielder in a crowded Mets outfield who had an .884 OPS and .310 batting average against left-handed pitching in 2024. The two-time All-Star could platoon with left-handed hitters Max Kepler and Brandon Marsh.
“Even the money is nearly a wash — well, for 2025. Walker is making $18 million; Marte $19.5 million in his walk year. If the Phillies agreed to pay the $18 million that Walker is owed in 2026, or included a midlevel prospect or two, there might be a path to a deal… if not for that pesky division-rivalry thing,” Lauber reports.
It’s highly unlikely a deal like this would get made, but it’s something that would help both teams with their immediate needs.
