It sure looks like the Mets might be taking their first steps to become sellers at the deadline this year.
Mid-game against the Philadelphia Phillies on Friday the Mets announced that they traded Eduardo Escobar to the Los Angeles Angels for a pair of top-20 prospects in the Angels farm system: Coleman Crow and Landon Marceu.
Crow, while he has been on the IL since April, projects as the better of the two prospects. He has pitched to a 1.88 ERA this season so far.
But the greater question is this: Are the Mets sellers?
John Harper of SNY says that the deal really shouldn't be looked in that light. And one could argue he is correct.
The Mets really had no place for Escobar to get regular playing time and at bats. He lost the starting third base job to Brett Baty; and the Mets already have Francisco Lindor and Jeff McNeil entrenced at second an short, respectively.
It's more beneficial for Escobar -- the player -- to play elsewhere.
That said, the Mets need to retool. They are 14.5 games out of first place and seven out of the wild card prior to their victory over Philadelphia on Saturday afternoon.
If the Mets do not turn things around, and if the way they have played this month is any indication, then owner Steve Cohen, GM Billy Eppler and Manager Buck Showalter are going to have to face facts and sell at the deadline.
This does not necessarily mean trading Max Scherzer (who has a third year player option next year) and Justin Verlander (who has a no trade clause), because both of them may be hard to move, but it could mean curtains for guys like Starling Marte, Mark Canha, Daniel Voglebach, and Adam Ottovino for example.
If the Mets can get a decent return for those aging veteran players who can help a contender right away, then, yes, the Mets should go and do it.
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