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When the New York Mets signed Juan Soto to a monster deal and Pete Alonso to a deal that allows him to opt out after one season, they indicated their intention to be all in on this year.
Soto will likely be on the Mets for the rest of his career, so their championship window may be open for years to come. However, this may be their only season with Alonso, Francisco Lindor and Soto. With the importance of this season and with the future in mind, could the Mets make a surprising trade for an ace?
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There has already been one shocking trade this season: the Boston Red Sox trading Rafael Devers to the San Francisco Giants. ESPN’s David Schoenfield proposed this trade, to bring Paul Skenes from the Pittsburgh Pirates to the Mets, that would make the Devers trade seem small:
- Mets receive: RHP Paul Skenes
- Pirates receive: SS/CF Jett Williams (MLB No. 45 prospect, Mets’ No. 1 prospect), RHP Jonah Tong (MLB No. 59 prospect, Mets’ No. 2 prospect, OF Carson Benge (MLB No. 74 prospect, Mets’ No. 3 prospect) RHP Nolan McLean (MLB No. 76 prospect, Mets’ No. 4 prospect) and IF Ronny Mauricio
The Mets would be giving up four top 100 prospects and a promising infielder in Mauricio. However, for Skenes, it may be worth it. Skenes is now a two-time All-Star and arguably the best pitcher in baseball. He is under club control through 2029, and would change the outlook of the league if he were traded to a contender.
The Pirates are reportedly not fielding offers on their ace. However, there is an argument to be made to trade him now. He has so much club control, and the Pirates have next to no shot at re-signing him on the open market. They also have not given him any reason to consider signing an extension, at least not yet. The Pirates seem far away from being contenders, and trading Skenes could yield them a haul of players to build around. Getting four top 100 prospects in a five-player package would be an unprecedented return.
The Mets would drastically improve their World Series chances. Their rotation is currently without Kodai Senga, Tylor Megill, Sean Manaea and Griffin Canning. They have one of the best starter ERAs in baseball, but that could change with all of the injuries. Skenes would give them a real ace and set them up for success in the coming years of the Soto era as well.
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