Yankees Mets trade deadline plans point in opposite directions
ESPN says the Yankees should buy around injuries, while the Mets should sell veterans and hunt for 2027 pitching.
By Deshawn Carter · Sports Writer
4 min read
The Yankees Mets trade deadline outlook has split New York baseball in two: one club is trying to patch a playoff roster, while the other is preparing another roster reset.
ESPN’s Jorge Castillo reported that the Yankees enter deadline week holding the top American League wild-card spot, despite playing without All-Star outfielders Aaron Judge and Cody Bellinger. The Mets, carrying baseball’s second-highest payroll behind the Los Angeles Dodgers, have fallen near the bottom of the majors and are expected to look different after Monday’s 6 p.m. ET deadline.
Castillo framed the Yankees as buyers seeking fewer, better upgrades after general manager Brian Cashman added seven players in the week before last year’s deadline. The Mets, by contrast, are positioned to move short-term pieces and look toward 2027.
What should the Yankees do at the trade deadline?
ESPN’s first Yankees target is Padres closer Mason Miller, even though New York’s bullpen has ranked first in the majors by ERA and Win Probability Added since June 1, according to FanGraphs data cited by ESPN. Castillo’s case is that Miller is a rare late-inning weapon with team control for three more seasons, while current closer David Bednar can become a free agent this winter.
Miller’s numbers make the idea tempting and expensive. ESPN listed him with a 0.81 ERA, a 0.55 FIP, 83 strikeouts in 44⅔ innings, a fastball reaching 103 mph and just one extra-base hit allowed. Castillo reported that the Yankees likely would not include top prospect George Lombard Jr., but could offer a controllable big league starter such as Will Warren or Ryan Weathers, plus prospects.
The second need is catcher. ESPN noted that Yankees catchers rank near the bottom of MLB in batting average, on-base percentage, slugging and wRC+. Castillo pointed to Twins catcher Ryan Jeffers as the preferred fit because he is having a strong season, batting .293 with a .930 OPS in 46 games, and would cost less than a longer-controlled option such as Rockies catcher Hunter Goodman.
Castillo also argued the Yankees should keep shopping for an impact bat, especially with Bellinger out four to six weeks because of a hamstring strain and Judge sidelined since May 31 by a rib stress fracture. ESPN listed Angels shortstop Zach Neto, Nationals shortstop CJ Abrams, Astros shortstop Jeremy Peña and Marlins infielder Otto Lopez among possible left-side infield targets, while also naming outfielders Taylor Ward, Jo Adell, Heliot Ramos, Lane Thomas and Spencer Steer as right-handed hitting options.
What should the Mets do at the trade deadline?
For the Mets, ESPN’s plan starts with moving players headed for free agency. Castillo listed starting pitchers Freddy Peralta and Clay Holmes, relievers A.J. Minter and Brooks Raley, and outfielders Luis Robert Jr. and Tyrone Taylor as names to trade.
Robert could be harder to move, according to ESPN, because he is making $20 million this season and is owed $5.8 million after Aug. 3. Castillo reported that the thin market for right-handed bats could still make him attractive at a low prospect cost.
Holmes, who had a 2.39 ERA in nine starts before breaking his fibula in May, was described by ESPN as one of the better starters available. Peralta has a 4.99 ERA, but Castillo wrote that his track record and lower remaining salary could draw interest. Raley and Minter have been effective, with ESPN listing ERAs of 2.09 and 2.45.
ESPN also identified relievers Luke Weaver and Huascar Brazobán as possible high-return trade chips. Brazobán has a 2.66 ERA in 44 appearances and is under team control through 2029, while Weaver has a 1.93 ERA in 40 games and is in the first year of a two-year, $22 million deal.
The Mets may also try to buy while selling. Castillo reported that president of baseball operations David Stearns said Friday that the rotation is “an area we’re going to have to look to supplement as we head to ’27.” ESPN named Angels left-hander Reid Detmers, Angels right-hander Jose Soriano and Mariners pitchers Emerson Hancock and Luis Castillo as possible controllable pitching targets.
This story draws on original reporting from ESPN.com.