Mack - Trading Deadline

July 31st is the last day that a major league baseball player can be traded without securing waivers. We can only assume at this point that the Mets will be a 'seller' during the mid-season trading season. 

There seems to be a fair amount of players that other teams could be interested in. Some, in my opinion, would be:

    2B - Daniel Murphy - In no way am I recommending that the Mets sell off their best hitter, but he probably will generate the most interest during this period. He's scheduled to go into his last season of arbitration and the speculation is it will cost the Wilpon family $8mil+. for someone that will probably leave the following year via free agency. A Murphy trade could probably generate two top prospects or a long term solution for shortstop. The Mets could then move Wilmer Flores over to second, giving him a chance to get his bat in the game every night.

    SS - Wilmer Flores  -  Speaking of Flores, he too could draw some interest due to his 'potential' bat production. As we all know, Flores has done everything the Mets have asked him to do in the minors, but he just can't chase Ruben Tejada off of shortstop. Teams are always looking for potential power during a pennant race, especially American League teams that have the DH option. His return would be limited but he does have some trade appeal.

    OF - Bobby Abreu - Abreu is probably the last person we expected to be talking about as trade bait, but some feel he's been the best power bat in the lineup. I think of him as Marlon Byrd's grandfather. Like Flores, he has limited appeal (because of his age) but he still seems to have the ability to win you a few games, which is exactly what teams want at this time of the year.

    SP - Jacob deGrom  - DeGrom has been a breath of fresh air in a season where starting pitching has generally been disappointing. He hasn't had much run support lately, and frankly, sometimes he's the best Mets bat in the lineup. I still don't see a place for him in the 2015 rotation so this would be a perfect time to deal him off for an everyday player of note. I can't think of any other player on the team that could solve shortstop or left field for both the rest of the season and 2015 and beyond.

    P - Daisuke Matsuzaka - another cheap, pleasant surprise this season, I would think that the Mets will have no problem finding Dice a new home for the remaining of the 2014 season. I have no idea what kind of player would close the deal here, but obviously it would be a higher level minor leaguer that isn't currently ready to help the team that would be trading for Matsuzaka.                   

    SP - Bartolo Colon  - Another player no one expected could generate any trade interest, but this one is due to his two year contract. He's proven to be quite effective most of the time, and he's a pure innings eater. I would think that the Mets would have to eat some of the contract here but they also could sneak away with a decent prospect here.

    OF - Chris Young  -  Like Colon, the Mets could eat around half of what's left on this contract and possibly steal a prospect, but it's hard to believe that anyone would want anyone that has produced so little this season.

    OF Eric Young Jr.  -  Young has limited appeal, mostly just for his potential speed on the bases. He'll just be coming off the DL so it's hard to project his value to another team. 

    3B - David Wright - And, if you really want to send the last of your fans to the parking lot, you can completely start over by dealing your star off for potentially three or four minor league prospects. Think the Johan Santana trade in reverse. Me? Well, this would probably mean the end of Mack's Mets and I'd walk off in the sunset. Don't worry. Even the Wilpons aren't this nuts.