MIAMI, FLORIDA – MARCH 12: Alexis Diaz #43 of Puerto Rico celebrates after the end of the eighth inning against Venezuela at loanDepot park on March 12, 2023 in Miami, Florida. Braves, Bryan Reynolds, MLB insider (Photo by Eric Espada/Getty Images)
With Opening Day only days away, free agency has seemingly come to an end. But trade discussions have taken place around the league, especially with the number of injuries happening during spring training and the World Baseball Classic.
There have been two major injuries, headlined by Edwin Diaz and Jose Altuve, and has the New York Mets and Houston Astros’ front offices mulling whether to stick with their internal options or look outside the organization. Then there are others such as Bryan Reynolds, who demanded a trade during the offseason, and remains in Pittsburgh without the long-term contract that he seeks.
There figure to be a few trades before Opening Day as teams tinker with their rosters. Perhaps the below trades could happen between now and then, though it’s much more likely that they are plausible before the MLB trade deadline in late July.
Here are three trades proposed by FanSided writers, with FanSided’s MLB Insider Robert Murray being the GM and determining whether to accept or decline each offer.
Trade proposal: Alexis Diaz to the Mets
Reds Get
C, Kevin Parada
1B/3B, Mark Vientos
H/T FanSided.com
Analysis: I don’t see this trade happening right now, as the New York Mets’ current plan is to roll with their internal options to replace All-Star closer Edwin Diaz. But this trade is intriguing.
For one, it would not require the Mets to part with top prospects Brett Bay or Francisco Alvarez. Mark Vientos’ path to the majors has been blocked. Parting with Kevin Parada, the Mets’ first round pick from 2022, would be difficult — scouts rave about his bat — but landing Diaz may be enticing enough to eventually pull the trigger on a trade.
The Mets even expressed interest in Diaz at last season’s trade deadline, but the asking price was far too high. Diaz is only 25 and held opponents to a .131 batting average last season. Not to mention that he’s making only $720,000 in 2023 and under team control for five seasons.
The asking price for Diaz will be high, perhaps higher than the trade above. But the Mets, at least as of right now, intend to go with what they have at the closer position — at least for now.
Verdict: Decline.
Source: News