Last week, I talked about potential bullpen arms the Mets should target at the trade deadline. Since the article, two main pieces of news have come out. The first one is that the Mets will be buyers at the deadline. According to multiple beat writers on Twitter/X, the Mets are expected to be looking to add at this year’s trade deadline. Now when I first wrote the article last year, the deadline plans were less concrete. Sure it was assumed they would look to buy, but there hadn’t been anything confirming it. It was all speculation from the fans, based on how good the Mets were in June.
The second big piece of information is that they aren’t just looking to upgrade in the bullpen. But they are also looking for a bat, specifically an outfielder. This comes after it was revealed that Starling Marte wasn’t close to getting back on the field and there isn’t a definitive answer of when he will be back. There is also the fact that guys like DJ Stewart and Tyrone Taylor can’t be everyday players. Especially when you are a team contending for a playoff spot.
Here are three outfielders the Mets should look to acquire at this year’s trade deadline.
Jesse Winker
The most popular name that will be thrown around at this year’s deadline is Mets fans’ old nemesis Jesse Winker. In case you forgot, in 2019, Winker made himself a villain after a three-game series that saw him waving and giving it back to Mets fans. Since then, he’s been one of the most hated men in Queens. However, this villain might be a perfect fit for the Mets’ problems.
This season Winker has slashed .262/.380/.433 good for a .813 OPS with 11 home runs and 49 RBIs. He also has a 134 OPS+ and a .319 BABIP. These numbers suggest Winker has worked through the struggles he had in 2022-23 and is more in line with his 2021 season when he was an all-star. Winker would slide perfectly into right field and could be a good bat off the bench when and if Marte returns. At the very least, he will provide some pop in the lower third of the order.
Michael Conforto
Just like with Winker, the answer to the Mets outfield issue might lie with someone fans are very familiar with. However, unlike Winker, Michael Conforto is still one of the fanbase’s favorite players. Conforto was drafted by New York 10th overall in the 2014 MLB draft. It didn’t take him long to make the majors, making his debut on July 24, 2015. This was the first move of the very famous 2015 trade deadline. Conforto spent seven seasons with the Mets and many thought he would get a long-term extension from the club had his 2021 season not been so bad.
However, they have an opportunity to bring him home. With the Giants continuing to fall further from a playoff spot, they’ll be looking to move some expiring contracts. Which Conforto just happens to be. He’s slashed .229/.301/.422 good for a .723 OPS with 10 home runs and 39 RBIs. He also has a 108 OPS+ and a .262 BABIP. There is also a familiarity that comes with Conforto. Although it was short, Cohen did get to spend a season with Conforto so there is an idea of the player he is. There also won’t be any worry that he can’t handle the pressure of New York.
Taylor Ward
If the Mets are hoping to acquire someone who isn’t a rental and can be a long-term answer, their target will most likely be Taylor Ward. Ward is under contract until 2026 and would become the everyday right fielder. Sure, Marte and prospects like Drew Gilbert and Ryan Clifford make this a less likely option. However, as stated before, the future of Marte is nothing more than a question mark. And the two prospects are unproven. Sure, they have potential but we still don’t know if they have what it takes to be big leaguers.
Ward is a proven big leaguer whose claim to fame is his offensive-first mindset. This means he prioritizes offense above all other aspects of his game. So far this season, he has slashed .227/.312/.394, good for a .706 OPS with 14 home runs and 44 RBIs. He also has a 97 OPS+ and a .273 BABIP. If the goal for this deadline is to help the Mets beyond 2024, Ward is the guy to get.
Thanks for reading! Credit for my feature image goes to Erick W. Rasco. You can find more MLB content at Belly Up Sports and follow me on Twitter/X.
