The Mets have plenty of interest in outfielder Tommy Pham and left-handed reliever Brooks Raley, reports Andy Martino of SNY. A Pham trade could come together soon, per the report, but the Mets are weighing whether to trade Raley at all or hang onto him and the $6.5MM option they hold over his 2024 season. That option comes with a $1.25MM buyout, so it’s effectively a net $5.25MM decision, which seems more than reasonable for Raley.
Pham, 35, is all but certain to be traded today. He’s still owed $2MM of this season’s $6MM salary and will be a free agent at season’s end. The veteran right-handed hitter has turned in a strong .268/.348/.472 batting line in 2023, adding in 10 home runs, 15 doubles, a triple and 11 stolen bases (in 12 tries). He’s walked at a stout 11% clip and is striking out at a 21.2% rate. Pham’s once strong defensive ratings have dipped to below average as he’s aged into his mid-30s, but the Mets have felt comfortable enough to play him for 45 innings in center this season in addition to 395 frames in his more customary left field slot.
There are plenty of teams looking for outfield help — the Twins, Phillies, Padres and perhaps Yankees among them. Both Philadelphia and Minnesota are said to be eyeing right-handed bats, in particular. The Mets have already shown a willingness to trade within the division, sending closer David Robertson to the Marlins, so it stands to reason they’d have minimal qualms about sending Pham to the NL East-rival Phillies if Philadelphia president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski winds up making the best offer.
Raley, meanwhile, isn’t necessarily the lock to be moved that Pham seems to be. Also 35, the left-hander has had an excellent season out of Buck Showalter’s bullpen, pitching to a 2.37 ERA with a 26.2% strikeout rate, 11% walk rate, 38.5% grounder rate and just 0.71 HR/9. It’s the second straight season with a sub-3.00 ERA and strikeout rate north of 26% for Raley, who’s actually been more effective against right-handed opponents than lefties. Virtually every contending club is interest in upgrading its bullpen, and while Raley isn’t the type of power arm teams gravitate toward — he’s averaging just 90.2 mph on his sinker — the bottom-line results are nevertheless appealing. Martino describes interest in Raley as “significant.”
It figures to be an active day for the Mets, who have not only Pham and Raley to peddle but also future Hall of Famer Justin Verlander. The Mets are also surely open to offers on catcher Omar Narvaez and righty Adam Ottavino, both of whom have player options for the 2024 season. Narvaez’s struggles this year will make it extremely difficult to trade him, as he looks quite likely to exercise next year’s $8MM player option. Ottavino is pitching well, however, and with a strong finish to the season would be likely to turn down his own $6.5MM player option in search of a larger deal on the open market.
The Mets want to sell high, because wherever Pham goes it will be all downhill
As they should.
Whoever buys, its at their own risk
Getting his eye examined during spring training and new contact lenses really helped him, iirc.
All the underlying numbers (exit velocity, barrel rate, etc) support this performance. He got new contacts this spring and apparently is seeing the ball much better, so take that for whatever it’s worth.
Bring Back Cespedes!!! DFA Vogelbach!!!
Ok, great just as long as it’s not to the Yankees. Easy pass.
NYM doing what NYY need to do. Cohen read the situation and is acting. The in between should we/shouldn’t is a tough position to be in
Cohen absolutely deserves praise for showing a willingness to pivot and sell. That’s not easy to do in NYC with the media…etc.
Absolutely. Cohen’s actions are a textbook example of not falling for the sunk cost fallacy. He’s trading downward trending assests he’s already bought and paid for and is trying to turn them into assets with upside that have lower long-term costs associated with them.
Arguably, Cohen hasn’t changed his approach. He said he’d spend until the farm was rebuilt. With the Mets going nowhere this season, accelerating stocking up the farm is smart.
Pham and Narvaez to the Yanks come on, lol, for recently sent down Marinaccio and maybe Loaisiga, the Mets need bullpen pieces
that combo makes sense for TB unless they had their fill of Pham in their lockeroom
Pham is bound to disappoint.
It’s hard to please the Long Island loudmouth contingent of NYM fans. But if they can get over value return for these players and potentially a haul for Verlander, you’d have to be thrilled. You know Cohen will be dipping into FA SP and other needs in off-season. Wash, rinse, repeat
The two highest payrolls in 2023 (Mets then Yankees) realizing that they are likely not going to make the playoffs. WHAT A WONDERFUL DAY for MLB fans everywhere outside of New York!!!!!!!
The difference is the Mets realize this. The Yankees think they will make the playoffs, but won’t make any moves.
don’t hurt your back carrying water for those billionaire owners crying poverty
“The Mets are bad because Tommy Pham is a tool” is a contender for my favorite 2023 hot take
Raley shouldn’t be traded. He has to much value for next year in the Mets bullpen.
I agree, but I also acknowledge bullpens are so volatile year to year, so I’d trade him for the right return.
I agree with both of you! I hope the Mets keep him; I hope the Mets get a lot for him. 🙂
Personally I’d prefer the Mets to keep him, unless the offer is too good. For an effective lefty out of the pen that can provide the occasional save at $6M, the offer would have to be sweet.
Agreed. That’s why I hope they keep him. That’s also why I hope they get a lot for him, because that’s the only way they should trade him.
If anyone can stomach watching and paying good money for tickets for a basically a non competitive team so be it. It will be difficult to watch the upcoming series with both Baltimore and Atlanta. I went through this in Oakland many years and the fan base can only take so much. Few starters and no bullpen. The great Mets fans deserve better, Gary and Keith will flipping for players cards in the booth again. I hope I’m wrong.
Fans come out a support a winning team no matter how it’s built.
“If you build it, they will come.”
I see Blue Borin’ has gone to his back yard and plucked from his clichè tree again.
A bit dramatic there Tomas. They have the same starting nine and possibly a Maurcio call-up on the horizon. Pitching will be bad but this team needed to get younger and more athletic. They are addressing both without giving up any prospects. It is much better than their 2021 strategy.
2024
C-Alvarez
1b-Pete
2b-Mauricio/McNeil/Acuna
Ss-Lindor
3b-Baty
Rf-Marte
Cf-Nimmo
Lf-McNeil/Mauricio
DH-Vientos
Plus whatever FA they get. 2024 will be far from a punt.
Unless they trade Alonso for a haul of young talent.
You know how the Yanks fished Torres using Chapman in 2016 right. Mets trying to do the same with guys like Scherzer.
In all honesty, if he’d just go by Thomas, fortune might smile upon him more often. He’s too hotheaded to go by Tommy.
What a dumb comment.
Indubitably the opposite.
Pham and Raley are fools gold
Eppler will blow it.
Actually Pham has been my favorite player this year and I don’t miss many games. His at bats are aggressive and productive and he plays the game hard. I can’t say that for the rest of them. Eppler will blow it.
How do you figure Eppler will blow it? I’m not a fan of his after he sent the Giants a package that should have netted Wilmer Flores and got Darin Ruf in return, but it’s hard to see how he blows this by trading Pham. They’re not extending him. Is it better to keep him in the hopes of an improbable playoff run than get a lackluster prospect for him? Perhaps, but it doesn’t make a lot of sense.
I might be wrong, but I think that rep comes from one bad impulsive action of his on another team. And I love the passion he shows. He will help some team.
I would hold onto Raley, to serve as the bridge to Diaz next year
relievers are too unreliable year to year….especially the older ones. Look at Ottavino – he was part of the problem. Raley is 35 – sell high. He’s not a true option to suppress lefthanded bats – so there’s an element of fool’s gold on him right now. SELL.
So true. Who could imagine in 2019 that Paul Sewald would be a desired closer at the the trade deadline 4 years later. Back then he was the the equivalent of Dominic Leone.
“Meanwhile” needs to start the sentence, not come in the middle, separated by commas.