NEW YORK -- It is an understatement to say the Mets did not expect to be in this spot. Heading into the season, the Mets were confident they would be a contender and likely a buyer at the July 31 non-waiver Trade Deadline. Instead, the club has tumbled to one of the Majors' worst records, as injuries have again wreaked havoc on its season.
As such, the Mets are one of baseball's clear sellers, with plenty of inventory from which to draw. They'll spend the next two weeks fielding offers from teams around baseball as they try to determine if they're prepared to compete in 2019 or better served descending into a full-blown rebuild.
Current status: Seller
The season quite simply hasn't worked out the way the Mets envisioned, particularly after starting the year 11-1. All of their pending free agents -- along with some others -- will therefore be available as the fourth-place club barrels toward the Deadline.
What they are seeking
Like last year, the Mets want pieces that can help them in 2019 and beyond. Depending on whom they trade, the return will likely take the form of as many organizational Top 30 prospects as possible.
What they have to offer
Plenty, though it remains to be seen which of their most valuable trade chips they'll realistically consider dealing. While Jacob deGrom and Noah Syndergaard are at the top of every contender's wish list, Mets officials have long insisted they will only trade those players for packages rich enough to bowl them over. Translation: it probably isn't going to happen.
More reasonable would be trading Zack Wheeler or Steven Matz, two oft-injured starters enjoying rare runs of health this summer. Even more reasonable would be dealing a bench bat such as Wilmer Flores, who has one more year of team control and could be a potent right-handed option for a contender in need.
If nothing else, the Mets are likely to deal closer Jeurys Familia and second baseman Asdrubal Cabrera, both of whom can be free agents after the season. Lefty reliever Jerry Blevins also fits into that camp, but his struggles have run so deep that the Mets will have a difficult time getting anything of value for him.
Possible scenario
When the Mets traded Addison Reed to the Red Sox last season, they received Boston's 18th-, 23rd- and 28th-ranked prospects -- all relievers -- in return. A year later, the Sox again profile as a trading partner for the Mets, who could theoretically command even more in a trade for Familia. Word is New York is looking for position players. Sox prospect Bobby Dalbec, a third baseman who's ranked No. 12 in their system, could be a good starting point for a deal.