Reese Kaplan -- "What Else Ya Got?"

While everyone is focusing on the perceived surplus of pitching the Met might have to trade to improve the offense, what other options might exist that other teams would find desirable?  We’ve all beaten the topic of Daniel Murphy to death for the past few years, but what else could Sandy Alderson do beside dangle Dillon Gee and Jonathon Niese to the other GMs? 

• Juan Lagares -- Yes, the man is a human highlight reel, but there are a couple of realities that make him a possibility to be dealt.  You are stuck with Curtis Granderson for another two years which could serve as a bridge to Brandon Nimmo taking over the position full time. 

• Brandon Nimmo -- While Sandy Alderson has not been one to trade prospects (and it would be doubly difficult to do so when people already questioned your judgment taking a high school player from a school without a team).  Still, if you’re committed to Juan Lagares and Nimmo doesn’t have the power to take a corner outfield position then perhaps once he’s off the DL he would be desirable to another team in need of a centerfielder.

• Kevin Plawecki -- While he probably didn’t do his stock any favors with his first taste of big league pitching, the fact remains that catchers who can hit are a somewhat rare commodity and as much as they’d like to hedge their bets given Travis d’Arnaud’s injury history, you have to give to get. 

• Wilmer Flores -- Even though his defensive woes have settled down considerably, the fact is he’s going to be an offense-first shortstop.  For a team built on young pitching, they might be more comfortable with a Gavin Cecchini manning that position in the future.  Consequently trading away a potential 25-HR shortstop might net some help in other areas, though you could just as easily slide Flores to the left or right to open up the SS position for Cecchini when he’s deemed ready.  

• Jenrry Mejia -- Remember him?  A team like the Yankees who just lost their closer might be willing to take a gamble on the flamboyant and controversial former closer who lost his job through both stupidity and Jeurys Familia’s brilliant performance.  He’s eligible to be back soon.  The forgotten man was highly effective as a closer last year.  

Perhaps the way to approach it is like how the Astros demanded we take Derek Bell from them because we wanted Mike Hampton.  In order for a team to take one of these players, we insist they take Gee or Niese or Murphy or Colon. 

Final thoughts – one player who might be worth exploring with the Chicago Cubs is Arismendy Alcantara, who came up as a shortstop, then was moved to 2B and then to CF.  He did not hit for average in his brief trial in the majors but he did show terrific power.  There’s no room at the inn for him in the loaded Cubs lineup.  He’s on a pace for 24 HRs, 60 RBIs, 33 SBs and a .280 average in AAA this year.  While everyone would rather have a proven hitter to help the club, based upon Michael Cuddyer, Curtis Granderson, Jason Bay and others, a long track record doesn’t necessarily guarantee success.  

Another Cub farmhand, Javier Baez, is leading all AAA shortstops in voting for the All Star game.  His power is down this year but the batting average is up.  That’s probably a good sign as he was previously an all-or-nothing swinger.  With Starlin Castro, Addison Russell and Kris Bryant on the infield for the Cubbies, he might actually be obtainable.