Trades That Need to Happen - Mets & Angels

I will try to fill in further explanation when time allows, but here’s the deal-

Mets trade: P Matt Harvey, P Zack Wheeler, OF Curtis Granderson, SS Amed Rosario, 2B Dilson Herrera, 3B Jhoan Urena, and OF Brandon Nimmo

Angels trade: OF Mike Trout and P Huston Street

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Sandy Alderson needs to pick up the phone and tell Billy Eppler that he can choose anyone not named Thor, Degrom, or Conforto in exchange for the game’s best player.

From the Mets’ perspective, this deal is a no-brainer as Trout can finally play in some meaningful games while serving as the face of the franchise right next to where he grew up.

Add him into this lineup and this is what we have:

1-Wright, 3B

2-Trout, CF

3-Cespedes, RF

4-Conforto, LF

5-Duda, 1B

6-D’Arnaud, C

7- Walker, 2B

8-Cabrera, SS

Offense, in New York?!?! Holy crap!

The rotation, especially in the playoffs, would be just fine with a combo of Thor, DeGrom, Matz, and the ageless Bartolo. Street adds a 7^th or 8^th inning option for Terry Collins. A ProvenCloser™ on a non-contender would be superfluous and Street is still owed about $14m through the end of next year.

From the Angels vantage point, it’s time to blow this up and start again.

Harvey can be the ace they’ve lacked since Jered Weaver finished third in Cy Young voting in 2012. If Wheeler can return to his pre-TJ form, the Angels would have a solid #3 on their hands.

Granderson is a serviceable outfielder that would help replace a fraction (admittedly, a small fraction) of Trout’s 2016 production.

Rosario, Herrera, Urena, and Nimmo are the four lotto tickets that could form the foundation the next time this team is competitive. Rosario has superstar potential while the others can be above average regulars. The barren farm system needs a talent infusion, and I believe these four would immediately become the Angels top four prospects.

Mock Draft Results

I will try to write a draft summary, but here's a summary of how my final mock went.

Going in, I said, "I will be disappointed if I don't hit at least 8 of 31 exact picks and any less than 28 first rounders."

Well, I had 9 direct hits. It would have been 10 if I didn't foolishly swap out Ronnie Stanley with DeForest Buckner, but what can you do.

Unfortunately, I only hit 25 of 31 first rounders. I'm really kicking myself for adding both Alabama DTs instead of Will Fuller, but again, hindsight is 20-20.