MLB Rumors: Mets Have 3 Sluggers On Their Trade Radar

The New York Mets are trying to hold off the hard-charging Atlanta Braves in the NL East, with a big 3-game showdown taking place in Georgia starting Monday night, and an old Mets' friend in the Braves' lineup. With the DH being a weak spot in the New York lineup for much of the season, the Mets are searching for a slugger.

“We’ve got among the lowest DH productivity in the game,” team president Sandy Alderson said. “Take Alonso out of it and it’s been very poor. … We’ve been waiting all season for one or two of those players to ignite, and that hasn’t happened.”

According to Bob Nightengale of USA Today, they are "exploring the possibility" of adding three big bats to fill that spot: Josh Bell or Nelson Cruz from the Washington Nationals, or Trey Mancini from the Baltimore Orioles.

Bell will likely be the most costly of the bunch, being just 29, with a power bat that still talks. He's hitting .304 with an .877 OPS, along with 12 homers and 47 RBIs this season. He becomes a free agent after completing his current one-year, $10M contract. There's some talk that his price tag has already scared the Mets off.

The 42-year-old Cruz has been rumored to be on the Mets' wishlist, though his age (42), and somewhat declining production means he'll come a lot cheaper than his teammate Bell.

Mancini is already a legend in Baltimore, though he's only in his 6th season at the age of 30. But his inspiring comeback from cancer a couple of years' back makes him an obvious fan favorite. He's having another strong year, hitting .284 with eight homers and 35 RBIs. Mancini and the Orioles have a mutual $10M option on his contract for 2023.

But the O's are riding an 8-game winning streak, and are just two games back in the Wild Card chase in the AL. Will they even still be willing to sell?

And besides, with the Mets catcher going down to injury, perhaps Willson Contreras should be high on their list as well.

Contreras has to be a target for the Mets.He’s a 2 month rental so maybe they can get a good price.Cubs will be looking to move him. .815 career ops and +7 defensive runs saved at catcher for his career. Him and a left handed reliever and we are set. Alvarez the dh. #LGM
— DP (@baseballmets86) July 11, 2022