Mets Trade Rumours Leave me Dazed and Confused

You know those social media posts that pop up every day asking things like, Describe your mood today with a movie title? Or a song? Or the old internet classic where you create your “adult film name” by combining your first pet with the last name of your least favorite Mets reliever and yes, mine would be

Coco Looper thanks for asking.

Honestly, that’s how my brain has always worked. I don’t process life in neat paragraphs. I process it in pop culture references movies, lyrics, adult films and album covers. If you’ve been reading my stuff for any length of time, you already know this. If you haven’t, welcome aboard. There will be quizzes later.

And since much of the Kiner’s Korner readership is old enough to still own original vinyl not “retro reissues,” but records that smell faintly of basement storage and poor life choices, mostly involving double albums (oh come on, don’t act so innocent) anyway the two album covers above are instantly recognizable. You don’t even have to play them. Just looking at them tells the whole story of the Mets offseason so far.

On one side, Rumours elegant, confident, beautifully produced, and full of big emotions and even bigger expectations. The kind of album that makes you think everything is going to work out, even if you’re not exactly sure how. Hopeful. Polished. Aspirational.

On the other side, Dazed and Confused loud, chaotic, slightly unhinged, and leaving you unsure whether what you just experienced was genius, madness, or a little of both. There’s energy there, no question. But also a lot of head-scratching and the lingering sense that you might need to sit down for a minute.

Together, they perfectly sum up the Mets offseason to date: moments of clarity followed immediately by moments of “Wait, what?” Confidence colliding with confusion. Hope shaking hands with insomnia.

And now that the needle has dropped and the crackle has faded, it’s time to turn the volume up and get into what this all actually means for the Mets moving forward.

Before we get to the fun part, and by “fun” I mean the part where Mets fans collectively refresh their phones like they’re waiting for a college acceptance letter, let’s clear the deck.

The departures of Brandon Nimmo, Pete Alonso, and Edwin Díaz have already been chronicled here in depth, from every conceivable angle, emotional and statistical. We’ve mourned. We’ve argued. We’ve re-argued the arguments. At some point, you stop staring at the empty locker and start asking who’s actually going to be using it.

On the other side of the ledger, the Mets didn’t exactly sit on their hands. The additions of Devin Williams and Jorge Polanco were real, tangible moves, the kind that suggest an actual plan rather than a late-night group text. Whether you love them, hate them, or are still Googling WAR at 2 a.m., they happened, and they matter.

Which brings us to the rumors.

Now, full disclosure. Kiner’s Korner is not and has never been a site that invents fake trades involving three teams, six prospects, and a player who retired in 2019 just to juice the clicks. We don’t do “sources say” unless those sources are actually saying something. That said, we also understand how baseball works. Sometimes where there’s smoke, there’s fire. Sometimes there’s smoke, a backup plan, and another guy on hold while someone waits for ownership approval.

Front offices don’t operate in straight lines. They work in Plan A, Plan B, and Plan C, often simultaneously, while pretending none of those plans exist. So let’s take a clear-eyed look at some of the rumors floating around out there, the ones that at least pass the laugh test, and talk about why they might make sense, or why they probably belong in the same category as a clean ninth inning.

Let’s start with the Mets-Padres chatter, which has been gaining traction lately. According to most credible sources, Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor and Padres outfielder Fernando Tatis Jr. are not part of these trade talks, though some of these sources may be descendants of the guy who wrote the headline “Dewey Defeats Truman,” so take that with a grain of salt. That said, the Mets reportedly have their eyes on a few names, including right-handed starter Nick Pivetta, outfielder Ramón Laureano, and relief pitchers Mason Miller, Adrián Morejón, and Jeremiah Estrada.

On the other side, the Padres are reportedly asking for young pitchers with plenty of team control remaining, including Nolan McLean, Brandon Sproat, and Jonah Tong.

Here’s the thing. I get some of the players the Mets and Padres are targeting, and I understand why some are off the table. McLean, for instance, is as close to untouchable as you’ll find in the organization. You don’t give up a young arm with that kind of control unless you’re either desperate or secretly auditioning for a “worst trade of the offseason” contest.

Now, I like the thought of Pivetta and Miller. Both would strengthen a rotation that needs some teeth. Laureano is a little trickier. I like him a lot, but whether he makes sense depends entirely on the blueprint David Stearns has for the offseason. If Stearns intends to go all in with either of the two big name free agents Cody Bellinger or Kyle Tucker for the outfield and was truthful about his plans to give Carson Benge a shot in center, then then adding Laureano might be overkill.

If that is the case, I would go all in on the pitching side and ask for the lefty Yuki Matsui. instead of Adrián Morejón and Jeremiah Estrada. Keep it simple, keep it focused, and let the arms do the talking.

On the other hand, if Bellinger and Tucker are not part of the plan, then it is time to get creative. In that scenario, I would try to try to sign former Padre and Free Agent Luis Arráez, play him at first base, and let him lead off. Now, I get Stearns’ mantra of run prevention and the desire to protect runs at all costs, but here’s the thing: Arráez has played over 2,000 innings at first base and is a fundamentally sound defender. He’s not going to win any Gold Gloves, but he won’t hurt you either, and the tradeoff is worth it.

You put up with Pete Alonso’s defensive shortcomings because of his home run power, and I would absolutely put up with Arráez for his elite plate discipline, his ability to make consistent contact, and the fact that he is a pure hitter who embodies the prototypical leadoff profile. He can get into a pitcher’s head right from the first inning, force them to throw extra pitches, and set the table for the lineup behind him.

If you were willing to trust Jorge Polanco with his one pitch of experience last April, Mark Vientos with his 17 games, or Jeff McNeil with his three, then Arráez might just be your best option. I mean, sure, the other guys have at least stood there, but that’s basically like moving Luis Torrens to the bullpen because he has pitched before — technically possible, but questionable at best.

In short, Arráez is a player I would look at. He solves multiple problems at once, including leadoff production, contact hitting, and run creation, and he does it without compromising the defense more than the team is already willing to accept.

Another name that keeps resurfacing this winter is Luis Robert Jr., and the noise around the White Sox center fielder has grown loud enough to get everyone’s attention, even as Chicago continues to insist nothing is happening. Inside the organization, the message remains that Robert Jr. is part of their plans and will be in their outfield on Opening Day. Outside the organization, the message changes depending on who you ask, which is how these things usually go.

This is not the first time Robert’s name has been out there. Before last season’s trade deadline, there were credible reports that the White Sox were at least open to using money as a tool in potential deals, including ones involving Robert or Andrew Benintendi.

The Mets have been linked to Robert again this offseason, but the sticking point is money. Chicago does not want to pay down any portion of his salary, while the Mets understandably want some financial offset if they are going to part with prospects. When those two positions meet, talks tend to stall quickly.

From a roster construction standpoint, the fit is logical. The White Sox have shown interest in Luisangel Acuña in the past, and Ryan Clifford’s name inevitably comes up because of his left handed power and proximity to the majors. That said, if I am the Mets, Clifford is not part of this conversation. There is a line, and that crosses it.

Robert Jr. was the center fielder I wanted most at last year’s deadline, even more than Mullins. Ironically, it turned out that Chris Mullins may have been the better bet than Cedric, which is a reminder that certainty is a luxury in this game. Still, Robert remains intriguing, even if the résumé has become more uneven.

He will turn 28 years old in August, and his career arc shows both the upside and the risk. There was the star level season in 2023, followed by two years of diminished production, increased swing and miss, and durability questions. The tools are still there, but the trend line matters, especially when you are talking about a player owed 20 million dollars this year with another 20 million dollar team option coming up.

If I am the Mets, I am not surrendering premium talent for that profile. What I am willing to do is take on the entire contract. That is where the leverage should be. The Phillies just gave Adolis García 10 million dollars on a one year deal. Robert is younger and, in my view, still the better player, but not at twice the price. The appeal here is removing the financial burden from Chicago, not overpaying in prospects.

There is also a practical upside. If Robert finds his form and the Mets are contending, you have a legitimate center fielder with power and speed. If he rebounds and the Mets are not contending, he becomes a valuable trade chip at the deadline for a team chasing a postseason spot. Either way, there is a path to recouping value.

Just as important, this type of move does not close any doors. It does not prevent the Mets from pursuing Kyle Tucker or Cody Bellinger. It does not force Carson Benge into a role before he is ready. It simply buys time and flexibility, which is something this organization has learned to appreciate.

That is why the Luis Robert Jr. rumors are worth watching. Not because they are guaranteed to happen, but because under the right conditions, they actually make sense.

Now let’s take a turn toward the Pacific, because no Mets offseason would be complete without at least a few rumors that require staying up late, squinting at highlights, and pretending we suddenly understand NPB scouting translations.

The Mets have been connected to several Japanese players this winter, which makes sense on multiple levels. They already have Kodai Senga in the clubhouse, David Stearns has never been shy about casting a wide international net, and the roster has some very real needs that could be addressed this way. That does not mean every name makes sense, but it does mean this is an area worth paying attention to.

Let’s start with the pitcher. Tatsuya Imai is a right hander who has drawn real interest from the Mets as they look to fortify the rotation. He is 27 years old and coming off a dominant season in Japan where hitters had a very difficult time doing anything productive against him. The appeal here is obvious. He has swing and miss stuff, he is in his prime, and he may come at a more reasonable price point than the last wave of headline grabbing Japanese pitchers. That alone puts him firmly in the category of realistic rather than wish casting.

Then there are the corner infielders, and this is where things get more interesting.

Munetaka Murakami is the name that jumps off the page. He has prodigious power, set records in Japan, and has been described in glowing, almost mythical terms for years. Stearns has scouted him personally, which tells you the Mets are doing real homework here. If Pete Alonso is no longer part of the long term plan, it is not hard to see why Murakami would be appealing. The upside is enormous, even if the transition comes with the usual unknowns.

That said, I continue to come back to Kazuma Okamoto.

I understand the uncertainty that comes with projecting any player making the jump from Japan to the majors. History tells us it is never a straight line, and projections are often more guesswork than gospel. But even if those projections are a little off, both Murakami and Okamoto bring two things the Mets could really use. Power and elite defense at first base.

Okamoto, in particular, feels like the safer fit. He offers defensive flexibility, steady production, and a skill set that plays even if the bat takes some time to adjust. There is real value in that. And if he gives you power while also being the best defensive option available at first base, that is a win even before you factor in anything else.

There is also a quieter benefit here that should not be ignored. Adding fellow Japanese players to the roster could very well help Senga rediscover his best form after a brutal post injury season. Comfort matters. Familiarity matters. Baseball players are human beings, and sometimes the difference between surviving and thriving has nothing to do with spin rate.

For me, this is why the Japanese market remains such a compelling avenue for the Mets. These are not desperation plays. These are calculated bets that address real needs while also building an environment that supports players already in the building.

If the Mets come away with Okamoto, I will be on board. If they take a bigger swing with Murakami, I will understand it. And if they add Imai to the rotation, that is the kind of move that quietly raises the floor of the entire staff.

This is one rumor lane that actually feels connected to a plan, and that alone makes it worth watching as the offseason needle keeps spinning.

And then there are the Tarik Skubal rumors, which probably deserve their own article on another day, mainly because none of this really makes sense in the present tense.

If I am the Tigers, a team very much positioned to contend for a playoff spot, I am not trading Skubal now. There is no incentive. His value is not going down. If anything, it will only rise as the season unfolds, especially if Detroit slips out of the race and a contender convinces itself that Skubal is the missing piece between October baseball and an early vacation. At that point, the return would be enormous.

From the other side, if I am a team sniffing around, the logic is just as shaky. Why empty your farm system in December for a pitcher you can attempt to sign long term without surrendering a haul? You would be paying twice, once in prospects and again in dollars, and that is rarely the smart play.

That is not to say Skubal will never move. It just feels far more like a July conversation than a winter one. Until then, this feels like one of those rumors that exists mostly because his name fits nicely into a headline and looks great in Photoshop.

Which makes it worth mentioning, but not worth losing sleep over.

There are smart paths forward here, real opportunities to reshape this roster without panic, and a few rumors that are better appreciated from a safe distance. Whether it’s a calculated dip into the Japanese market, a sensible Padres conversation, or simply resisting the urge to chase every shiny name that trends on social media, the Mets also still can go the free agent route. The needle hasn’t skipped. The record isn’t broken. We’re just waiting to see which track Stearns drops next.

Now it’s your turn. Of all the players mentioned here, which ones do you actually want wearing orange and blue on Opening Day? Who are you pushing all your chips in for, and who are you politely escorting to the rumor recycle bin? And while you’re at it, don’t forget to share your adult film name, formed by combining your first pet’s name with the last name of your most hated Mets reliever. Judgment will be swift, merciless, and entirely in good fun. As always, we want to hear from you in the comment section below.