The New York Mets are in a tight race with the Philadelphia Phillies for the National League East crown. However, they could use some help in the outfield.
Tyrone Taylor has been the team's primary center fielder, but he does not have much upside offensively. Jeff McNeil has started to see some time there, but his services are also needed at second base. Adding an outfielder at the deadline could be a huge boost for the Mets.
The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal revealed that Oneil Cruz of the Pittsburgh Pirates may be available, as Paul Skenes and Andrew McCutchen are the only Pirates the team will not look to trade. Cruz is having a poor year at the plate, but a change of scenery could do him some good. His ceiling is high and he has three years left of club control.
Last year, Cruz slashed .259/.325/.449 with 21 home runs and 22 stolen bases. This year, he has a .205 batting average and leads baseball in strikeouts. The Pirates are one of the few teams already out of contention. BALLCAP Sports' Jim Riley proposed this trade that would ship Cruz to the Mets.
- Mets receive: outfielder Oneil Cruz
- Pirates receive: outfielder Drew Gilbert (Mets No. 9 prospect), infielder Marco Vargas (Mets' No. 13 prospect) and A.J. Ewing (Mets No. 26 prospect)
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The Mets would really be banking on Cruz turning things around. It's not a crazy thought. Playing in a better lineup on a team with winning aspirations could have a huge effect on his offensive production. However, his club control and undeniable talent make him an expensive addition.
The move would allow the Mets to keep McNeil in the infield. Cruz may be struggling, but he is still leading the NL in stolen bases. He still has a higher OPS than Taylor and could still be considered an upgrade.
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