Mets: Justin or Bustin’ at the Trade Deadline?

Author’s Note:  I fully expect the Mets to be quiet at the trade deadline this year, as I have already posted here and here. That being said, ‘tis the season for this type of speculation. In order to keep the advertisers happy with our site traffic , here is Mets Today’s contribution to the stone soup of trade deadline proposals that will be everywhere the next two-plus weeks.

 The New York Mets should trade for San Diego Padres outfielder Justin Upton. Here’s why:

  • Offense!  He would immediately become the team leader in home runs and stolen bases this season (14 and 17, respectively) and second in batting average. His OBP would rank third among Mets regulars, but his current SLG, OBS and OPS+ rates surpass all Mets in those rankings right now. Certainly the naysayers among us will point out that the Mets are currently getting Upton-like production from Curtis Granderson. But Upton is a 3.1 WAR player vs. Grandy’s 2.2. Also Grandy, while ostensibly the Mets best hitter so far this season, is performing much better than he has in his past two seasons. Is he due for a regression in the second half? His last ten games indicate the regression has already started. Upton is faster, younger and a better fielder.  Put Upton in the lineup in the three hole, bat Daniel Murphy second and whoever else is hot at the time in leadoff and you’ve got a chance for some early innings runs in support of the young arms.
  • He won’t cost the farm: To get Upton from Atlanta, the Padres forked over two A ball pitchers, an AAA outfielder and a major league utility player currently slashing 254/334/352. This means he won’t cost one of the “core four.” Since Upton walks at the end of the year, San Diego is looking at draft pick compensation, so they shouldn’t expect much more than a recent high round draft pick (one not named Conforto) along with perhaps Hansel Robles or Logan Verrett. The Mets will surrender some talent, but nothing likely to come back to haunt them for years.
  • Alderson “wins”: Upton was on the Mets’ radar screen when the Diamondbacks first put him on the market back in 2012-13. They supposedly asked Met GM Sandy Alderson for either Matt Harvey or Zack Wheeler, a deal Alderson refused to make. How smart would he look now to get him for far less? Plus, it’s a sneak preview for the Mets; if Upton comes in here and slashes 290/360/520-ish, while leading the charge into the playoffs, it might ease their minds somewhat towards signing him to a long-term deal. An in-his-prime, New-York-tested-and-approved slugger is exactly what “The Plan” calls for (and if not, it or should). If he comes here and pulls a Jason Bay, he can be crossed off the list of free agents that they “monitor” this offseason.
  • The Wright connection: OK,  Michael Cuddyer hasn’t really worked out, but Upton is also from David Wright’s neck of the Virginia tidewater, which if nothing else, is a nice connection to have. David Wright is done. Speaking of Cuddyer, you can now platoon him at first with Lucas Duda and hope that one of them gets his head together for the stretch drive.
  • The itch is scratched: Last but certainly not least for Alderson and the Wilpons, a trade like this will get everyone off of their collective backs for a while. Remember the good vibes here when Alderson traded for those two relievers right before Opening Day? That, coupled with the tear the club went on, lead to a six-week era of good feelings. This deal takes Met fandom’s focus off of  their almost universally-disliked team ownership and front office and puts it squarely on the field, which is where it belongs. Plus Alderson can walk his dog in peace for a while.

Overall, this season has easily been one of the more entertaining ones in recent Mets history, one that we will hopefully look back on in a few years as a “(good) transition year.”  I get it that you can’t mortgage a significant part of your future for a semi-long shot at a playoff berth. That’s why this Upton deal works on the levels spelled out above.

So how about you? Got a trade proposal you’re needing to share? Expect a trade or just more dog-walking? Do you like Justin Upton? Should his brother stick to “Melvin,” or go back to “BJ?” Sound off below.

A Mets fan since 1971, Dan spent many summer nights of his childhood watching the Mets on WOR Channel Nine, which his Allentown, PA cable company carried. Dan was present at Game 7 of the 1986 World Series and the Todd Pratt Walkoff Game in 1999. He is also the proud owner of two Shea Stadium seats. Professionally, Dan is a Marketing Manager in the Bulk Materials Handling industry. He lives in Bethlehem PA with his wife and son, neither of whom fully get his obsession with the Mets.
  1. ! Scottie July 15, 2015 at 8:14 am
    It’s going to be a great,second half!
  2. Reese July 15, 2015 at 9:48 am
    I think there will be a minor move or two made for strengthening the bench beyond the ilk of Eric Campbell and John Mayberry. The only surprise I could see coming is if the Mets chose to move a bullpen arm such as Jenrry Mejia (extraneous, baggage and closer-capable) or Bobby Parnell (increasing cost for a setup guy). They could bring back Verrett or Leathersich to make up for whomever leaves until Blevins is ready.
  3. Dan42 July 15, 2015 at 10:15 am
    Him for Wheeler would have been a winner. Considering the salary owed for the rest of this year, I would think anything close to the draft pick they would be giving up would get it done.
  4. Extragooey July 15, 2015 at 2:49 pm
    Upton’s availability is up in the air. The Padres themselves don’t know whether they will be sellers or buyers. Like the Mets, the next 2 weeks will be very important in their decision process.

    Even if the Padres like any potential packages the Mets may be able to offer, I find it unlikely the Mets will sit either a 15 million a year right fielder, a 10 million a year left fielder, or Legares. I guess they can get Upton and give Legares that Tommy Johns that he needs. They can also package the others to go elsewhere, but that looks unlikely.

    Any trade requires two parties at the table. So whether or not Upton becomes a Met isn’t as simple as Alderson needs to go do it. One move that only requires the Mets to go do it is to bring up Conforto. I have not read anything negative about Conforto at the plate, by all accounts, he should be major league ready. It’s been pretty much universal praise for his hitting. The only knock is his lack of power and his defense. Well, defensively, he can’t be worse than Cuddyer, even without Cuddyer’s bruised knee. If you promote him to AAA and put him in Vegas, yah, he’ll develop power, but is it real power, or PCL elevated power numbers? I don’t think the Mets want to change his approach at the plate, so the power may come or it may not come. He can find that out in the majors just as well as in the minors. There’s a need in LF with Cuddyer’s lack of performance and his bulky knee. This move makes sense in my opinion.

    • Dan Capwell July 15, 2015 at 4:17 pm
      But, the Mets have stated that they are not ready to promote Conforto–does his Future’s Game performance change that?

      http://metsblog.com/metsblog/mets-not-yet-considering-promoting-conforto-to-majors/

      • Extragooey July 15, 2015 at 6:29 pm
        Well, I hope they change their minds and I hope they don’t base it on one exhibition game. There’s a need on the team that can, in my opinion, be filled internally. Maybe I’m wrong, but I don’t see the harm in trying. Unlike they do with Nimmo, I don’t see pundits or scouts identifying issues with his hitting. The only issue with Conforto is the power that I already mentioned. If he fails, people will say he wasn’t ready, he goes down to AAA and put up video game numbers that all good hitter will put up in Vegas. That should help to alleviate any confidence issues. If he succeeds, we get a bat that we need.
    • Dan42 July 15, 2015 at 6:37 pm
      The PCl will probably inflate most of his hitting stats, but the experience against better pitching will help his development. It’s almost certain that he will do poorly vs MLB pitching right now, without power his bat will not be effective, and if his fielding is suspect how will he help the team right now?
      • Extragooey July 16, 2015 at 10:27 am
        He can experience even better pitching up in the majors to help his development. And like I mentioned, what additional development does he need? What aspect of his hitting does he need to work on? The answer is none. He will be replacing an already suspect defensive player in left field. Even if they are both suspect, he doesn’t have a gimpy knee. Win on defense and win on offense.
        • Dan42 July 16, 2015 at 11:04 am
          But considering your ” The only knock is his lack of power and his defense.” that’s not likely to happen. Agreed re Cuddyer, but there has to be better choices than replacing one liability with another. I’d even give Captain Kirk another shot, at least defense would improve substantially, and maybe he can deposit a few more fat puppies over the orange line.
        • Extragooey July 16, 2015 at 12:37 pm
          His defense is actually considered average by some as of right now with a chance of being above average. If you want more power, sure maybe Ensign Kirk is your guy. I’d rather have +.350 OBP or maybe even .400 OBP with 10-20 HR power.
        • Dan42 July 16, 2015 at 7:33 pm
          The jump from AA to the majors will kill his OBP, and his last 28 day line in AA (.250/.302/.350/.652) isn’t screaming he’s ready.

          Goldschmidt’s stats took a big hit when he went from AA to the Majors August 2011, after 103 AA games. It wasn’t until the following May that he started to produce like he did in AA.

        • Extragooey July 17, 2015 at 12:53 am
          Pujols jumped essentially from A ball. Olerud never had an at bat in the minors before playing his first game with the Jays. I’m not comparing Conforto to these guys, but since you brought up a MVP caliber player that struggled while jumping levels, I will counter that with two that didn’t.
  5. Kevin Cosgrove July 15, 2015 at 6:40 pm
    The Padres probably will shop Upton because IMO he would not resign there, and since he is a FA to be the Padres should try to get something in return, and would be foolish not to trade him. I’m sure Alderson would love to trade for Upton and would deal some prospects, but it all comes down to the Wilpons. Are they willing to actually spend some money? Probably not.
    • Dan42 July 15, 2015 at 7:49 pm
      Thing is he’s strictly a rental, and under the new rules won’t return a draft pick if he refused a QO after the season because he was traded. Unless a team is willing to overpay for 2+ months of roller coaster performance, or make a six figure extension part of a trade I don’t see him being moved. As for the Mets acquiring him, that ship sailed back when.
      • DaveSchneck July 15, 2015 at 9:35 pm
        Dan,
        I tend to agree with you. I could see Alderson acquiring Upton, but only for a couple of lesser prospects, as a salary dump by the Pads, I do suspect that the marketplace will provide a little more to the Pads. I am not a big fan of the two month rental, especially given two main issues – 1. no QO/comp draft pick and 2. the Mets are not “one piece away”. Maybe one piece from a WC or playoff birth, but not one pice from a WS contender. I prefer too add a lower cost piece and preserve the assets for a bigger offseason acquisition, like for a SS.

        Lastly, in response to some comments regarding the expendability of Parnell and his relative cost, he is a very valuable piece, still controllable and cost effective for the remainder of this season and next. A championship caliber team needs 2 to 3 guys that can close in the pen, and if Parnell continues to strengthen and improve, a Familia-Parnell-Mejia back end is very legit. I would also try to retain Robles, he is a little maturity and polish from being a strong back end piece.

  6. Sidd Finch July 15, 2015 at 11:50 pm
    Justin Upton’s slash lines since 6/1: .176/.281/.244

    He’s as streaky as they come. Not worth giving up too much for but if the Pads back up the truck then he’s worth considering. Otherwise buyer beware.

  7. Cj July 16, 2015 at 12:39 am
    I hope they do something. Not just to do it but to make an attempt. This team is close (when it comes to the Mets I’m overly optimistic, I want to enjoy watching my team) I’d rather upton than zobrist. however without an upgrade at short I see trouble.
  8. Dave C July 20, 2015 at 11:44 am
    I’d rather see them go after Carlos Gomez… Gomez is signed through next year, Upton is a rental