Trades That Make Sense: Mets & Reds Edition

This kills me to write because Jose Reyes is one of my two favorite Mets of all time (DWright), but I think the Mets need to start fresh and deal him away.



Proposed Trade:

The Mets would deal Reyes and Mike Pelfrey to the Reds in exchange for prospects Billy Hamilton, Yasmani Grandal, and Ryan LaMarre.


Why Would the Mets Do This?

1- With a starting rotation dependent upon the likes of Chris Capuano, Dillon Gee, and Mike Pelfrey, this team is not competing in 2011.

2- Reyes will be a free agent after the season and if he bolts, the Mets will be left with nothing. If they trade him now, they can restock a bare cupboard with an infusion of young talent.

Hamilton is one of the fastest players in the minors, Grandal can be the future behind the dish in Flushing, and LaMarre is a great defensive centerfielder.

3- Reyes is healthy and (obviously) there are no guarantees it stays this way.

4- They clear plenty of salary now, allowing them to spend freely during June's draft which is regarded as one of the deepest in recent memory.

5- It's time for Pelfrey to go.


Why Would the Reds Do This?

1- As it stands now, the Reds are only 2.5 games out of first in the NL Central and two games out of the Wildcard lead, but Reyes makes them an instant pennant contender.

2- Cincy has gotten no production from the shortstop platoon of Paul Janish (.238/.273/.287) and Edgar Renteria (.228/.326/.253).

3- The prospects they would be trading are blocked anyway. Hamilton is behind Reyes and Brandon Phillips, Grandal is behind fellow-prospect Devin Mesoraco, and LaMarre is behind Drew Stubbs, Jay Bruce, and Chris Heisey.



Up next for the Mets, dealing Carlos Beltran, KRod, and possibly David Wright.



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