With the Mets’ offense floundering while key hitters David Wright, Daniel Murphy and Travis d’Arnaud are on the disabled list, the team has spoken to the Athletics about a potential Ben Zobrist trade, reports John Harper of the New York Daily News. Citing sources “on both sides,” Harper says that while there have been talks, there’s nothing to indicate that the talks are particularly advanced.
The Mets have dropped seven consecutive games and fallen under the .500 mark — a swift fall from the high that came along with an 11-game winning streak back in April. Still, as Harper notes, the team’s rotation is too good to remain idle and hope for improved performance and/or better health. Harper spoke to Alderson about the need to make a move, with the GM telling him, “It would be nice to do something if we could to improve this team and give it a psychological boost.” According to Harper, Alderson made it clear that he understands the urgency to make some kind of move to help the team.
Zobrist is the type of player in which the Mets are reportedly interested. Previous indications have been that the club is eyeing someone versatile — potentially someone that could play at third base while Wright is on the shelf and slide to another position when he returns to the club. (The Mets are hoping to have Wright back around the All-Star break.) Zobrist is highly versatile, having logged significant playing time in the Majors at second base, shortstop, left field and right field. Zobrist also has more brief exposure to third base, center field and first base. While he wouldn’t be an ideal candidate to step in at the hot corner for Wright, the team could use Murphy at third with Zobrist at second until Wright returns, then potentially use Zobrist at either shortstop or in a corner outfield slot.
Of course, all of that is relatively aggressive speculation, given the seemingly preliminary nature of the discussions between the two teams. In fact, previous reports have indicated that while the Mets do covet Zobrist, they also feel they’ll be outbid for his services. As Harper notes, it doesn’t help the Mets’ cause that one of their more marketable trade chips, right-hander Rafael Montero, has been sidelined for two months with a shoulder injury.
Zobrist underwent knee surgery earlier this year and struggled upon his return, but he’s hitting a solid .250/.335/.451 with five homers on the season after heating up recently. Defensive metrics are quite down on his work this year, though it’s fair to wonder how much that’s tied to the knee surgery, as he’s long graded out as a plus defensive player all around the diamond. If the knee is the reason for the defensive struggles, then it stands to reason that his glovework should improve along with his bat as he works his way back to full strength. Zobrist is owed $4.18MM through the end of the season, at which point he’s eligible for free agency.
Certainly, a Zobrist trade — with the Mets or any other team — isn’t likely to transpire in the near future. The A’s are still said to be pushing to get back into the race, and they’ve played better as of late, winning eight of their past 10 contests and 13 of 21 in June. Beyond that, we’re in the early stages of what looks to be a market skewed decisively in favor of sellers, so any significant trade made at this juncture would likely be very costly for the acquiring team.
Mets fans: You can’t have Brock Holt, so this is probably a good option for you.
Would the A’s want win-now pieces or prospects?
Ben Zobrist looks like Kirk Gibson a la 88 Dodgers post season when running the bases. Just what the Mets DO NOT NEED.
He’s looked fantastic over the last week. I’d agree he seemed like he was a little stiff right when he came back from surgery, but he’s fine now. I don’t think the A’s will trade him though, unless the Mets want to overpay.
A return would have to be a young guy that’s near MLB-ready. From the Nationals, the A’s were asking for Michael Taylor. Rafael Montero would make sense, but he’s hurt. Michael Conforto?
Please tell me you’re trolling.
Conforto…hah! Keep your expensive, damaged player Oakland.
Expensive? $4 mil is nothing. Damaged? Hasn’t shown any signs of injury in over a month.
This seems like a typical case of a team’s fans overvaluing their prospects. There’s gonna be a bidding war for Zobrist. Arguably the top position player available. Mets want offense, they’ll have to pay.
Being frank, the Mets would be lucky to get him for just Conforto. Michael Taylor is more valuable, and that name has been discussed.
Mets are not going to pick up Zobrist for what Beane will ask. Conforto is a non starter. If Alderson agreed to that deal, he would be burned at the stake by the NY fans.
Just like how Sabean was burned at the stake by Giants fans for giving up Zach Wheeler? It seems the Mets peanut gallery in here doesn’t understand how deadline trades work. So its ok for other teams to trade you their top prospects for all-star rentals, but not the other way around? You all need to check yourselves, you’re being ridiculous.
Prospects will break your heart more than they will turn into immediate superstars, if you really do want to contend, then you take that risk, every single time. Without thinking.
You do have to give someone up to get something. It seems like everyone never wants to give up anything, but want everything. They really don’t have to trade him. So they will ask for good offers and if not then they can just roll with him and a guy who hits in the 270s, gets on base plenty, can play anywhere in the field, is definitely worth it. Don’t over rate unproven prospects compared to proven commodities. By the way since when is one surgery a damaged player? He plays like 160 games a season. Going by that logic Harvey is a damaged player too, Wright as well. It’s just a stupid way to think. He got injured and had it fixed.
You’re right. You can’t get something for nothing. Zobrist is a great super sub who could be a helpful component for the Mets. However, the Mets will not surrender significant value for a guy who isn’t much of an upgrade over Flores (who features better offensive #’s) and becomes a free agent after the season.
Mets are a better trade partner with the White Sox or Cubs. Baez or Castro from the Cubs for young starting pitching meets needs of both teams. Alexei Ramirez, owed $5M for the year and heading into his walk year with #’s down could be a fit for the Mets who need a TRUE SHORTSTOP with offensive potential.
Most likely, the Mets end up DOING NOTHING. They are not telling the full story of their financial situation which seems to be their overriding concern.
Also, Mets are desperate for offense, and are lopsided with ridiculously talented young starting pitching. There is no way they could offer Conforto unless the package included one of their starters and brought back an A+ offensive talent with a guaranteed contract.
The Mets would offer B-grade talent for Zobrist which the A’s would rightly reject. He’s not a strong enough fit for their strategy for them to open up the talent coffers in the way some posters here envision.
well hes kinda not. the athletics did ask for micheal taylor for zobrist so the price will be high apparently
lol. Conforto is off the table and a ridiculous over-pay for a ~4mon rental w. a recent injury.
Just like how Wheeler was a ridiculous over-pay for a 3 month rental of Beltran? Or do you not think your team applies to the market? Because they do.
Hi Mark – How closely do you follow the Mets? You’re assuming, perhaps by the standings, that they’re in serious contention in 2015. Any closer observer of the NL East can tell you that is not the case. It would take a significant roster overhaul to put them in shooting distance of the Nationals. Given the strength of the Central division, Mets have zero chance of wild card contention.
When Sabean brought in Beltran, it was to give an offense challenged Giants lineup the push it needed for the postseason run. Beltran was great for them, but they did not make it that year. Difference is that the Giants were coming off a WS victory the year prior, and had every reason to believe they could contend again in a weak division. It simply didn’t work out…
The Giants made a mistake trading ZacK (check your spelling) Wheeler… Why should the Mets make the same mistake? Conforto is awesome, and is not worth four months of Zobrist. At least when the Giants acquired Beltran, he was still producing all star numbers. Just because one team made a bonehead decision doesn’t mean other teams have to as well, guy
What you have to remember about Wheeler, is he was a young high school arm. Asking for an 18 year old kids is one thing. Asking for Conforto/Taylor who is 23/24 and MLB ready is a different thing. Wheeler had 30 something minor league starts over 2 seasons at A ball, with decent but not unbelievable numbers. His biggest question, which still haunts him to today is whether he will ever be able to reign in his control. Wheeler was averaging 5BB/9 with the Giants.
Conforto should be a September call up and has destroyed pitching at every level he’s at, even if he is younger than most of the players he’s playing against.
Taylor is in the MLB right now, and will likely replace Span in CF. You can ask for Harvey and Syndergaard too, obviously they won’t get it.
Honestly when you look at several of the other rental trades we’ve seen in the past couple years, they won’t get a Conforto/MTaylor for this type of player. Teams just won’t give up a Top 5 prospect for a 3 month rental of a player, especially a player of Zoberist’s caliber(he’s not Jeter/Arod/Tulo in their prime).
It is possible and very likely there could be a trade where a team gives up a much younger or distant prospect. For the Mets, this could be a Akeel Morris/Blake Taylor/Milton Ramos etc. Perhaps someone from the 2014 draft class, however Conforto won’t be that player.
As much as people bust Alderson, he’s a shrewd GM. He has done an excellent job jettisoning veteran albatross contracts. He has rebuilt some significant depth to the minor leagues. We are positioned to make a run at the playoffs now just as the Nationals did under Rizzo in the early part of this decade. It wouldn’t be his MO to step back with that kind of trade.
I actually see Zob in a 3 way trade with the Red Sox. They can take salary, and have prospects to give.
Smarter for the Mets to just play Conforto.
Agreed…That would mean benching or platooning Cuddyer / Granderson though, i.e., admitting failure, something the FO will be resistant to do. I anticipate they’ll call him up when rosters expand and not before unless an injury forces their hand.
Also smarter for the A’s to keep Zobrist. They are 17-11 with him in the lineup.
A’s just won 5 in a row and are on a hot streak so that means Zobrist price went up again. If mets fans think it will be for a 15th best prospect think again. He will bring a very good prospect. Mets heard the asking price and balked at it. So unless they are willing to give up a top prospect it will not happen. Andy Parino is available.
Sorry, but the Mets don’t have to give away a top piece for a Ben Zorbist. Montero for Zorbist would have been the deal if Montero wasn’t still hurt, but it’s possible that someone else, a Single A player and a player to be named later, “Montero” for Zorbist would happen. The fact that the Mets brass has sat on their blank for this entire time with no real time frame for Wright’s return which may not even be this season, is a real testament to how they can’t and won’t do anything to improve this team.