On today's edition, there is a story circulating from the New York Daily News that the Mets are looking into the possibility of trading their prized and much ballyhooed prospects, Zach Wheeler and Travis D'Arnout to the Miami Marlins for outfilder Giancarlo Stanton.
Before any Mets' fan jumps at this proposed trade -- let's keep in mind its based on rumors from so-called "sources." According to the writer of the article, Andy Martino, the Mets are still in a desperate search to find an outfielder after striking out on an opportunity to acquire Justin Upton, and failing to sign Michael Bourn in the off-season; now the Mets are monitoring two potential trade partners in the Marlins and Colorado Rockies and their own prized outfielder, Carlos Gonzalez.
Martino even sites that Mets' General Manager Sandy Alderson spoke casually during spring training with the Marlins about Stanton, but no serious negotiations occurred.
On its surface, a trade to get one of the best-young power hitters in the game today is a no-brainer for the Mets. Stanton is only 23-years-old. He is has three years left on his rookie contract, so the cash strapped Wilpon's don't have to pay him right away, and oh by the way, he has 93 homers in his first three seasons in the big leagues.
However, trading Wheeler and D'Arnout for him might be a lot for New York, especially if Wheeler is included in the deal. Anyone watching the Mets this season will know that this team needs starting pitching; they have two studs at the top of their rotation in Matt Harvey and Jon Niese, and no one else after them.
Wheeler has been tagged with the fast track in the minors; many expect him to join the big league club come mid-summer. Scouts throughout the majors have touted Wheeler as a kid with "ace" potential for years, going back to his minor league career with San Francisco. There is a reason why the Mets dealt Carlos Beltran fro him two years ago -- the kid has the"stuff" to be an ace.
D'Arnout on the other hand, is a guy who has been labeled as a top catching prospect in the majors for a few years. Injuries have prevented his rise to the majors, and he was deemed expendable by the Blue Jays who dealt him to the Mets this winter for R.A. Dickey. Still, D'Arnout is drawing plenty of praise with scouts saying he could be a 10-15 time All Star.
Trading both of these guys could be a death warrant for both Alderson and the Mets, especially if Wheeler and D'Arnout live up to the hype.
If the Marlins are willing to negotiate, the Mets should do everything they can to keep Wheeler from FLA. Pitching comes at a real premium, especially good starting pitching. The Mets have enough prospects down on the farm now that they can throw into the deal to get Stanton and keep Wheeler in camp.
This doesn't mean the Mets should not make the deal.
They have to make a deal -- bringing in a big time bat like Stanton who is even younger than D'Arnout, and, who has a chance to become of the games premier hitters is a boon for this franchise. If the Mets want to make themselves attractive to prospective free agents this winter and down the road, bringing in Stanton would be a huge draw.
However, if I had to choose between acquiring the 23-year old Stanton and the 27-year old Gonzalez from Colorado, I would go with CarGo. Why? Gonzalez is in his prime, and has proven to be a much more consistent hitter than Stanton. Stanton can hit the long ball, but he strikes out a ton, and is only a career .268 hitter. Regardless, the Mets can't go wrong either way.
That being said, let's keep in mind this is just a rumor. The Marlins are in control of Stanton for three more years, they don't have to trade him right now. If Jeffrey Lurie is smart (talk about an oxymoron), he would try to keep Stanton as long as he can just to increase the package he could get for him, as well as put some people in the seats.
It is always fun to talk prospective baseball trades, even if they aren't really based on reality.
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