Tony Plate - NY Mets New GM Makes Possible Huge Impact Trade

The New York Mets new General Manager Brodie Van Wagenen made his first possible huge impact trade by acquiring former New York Yankee second baseman Robinson Cano and closer Edwin Diaz along with twenty million in cash in a blockbuster trade with the Seattle Mariners in exchange for Jay Bruce, Anthony Swarzak, former first round draft picks Justin Dunn, and Jared Kelenic and reliever Gerson Bautista. 

The twenty million coming from Seattle will help pay for Cano’s contract meaning the Mets will be paying Cano twelve million a year for the duration of his contract. Cano, 36, was suspended for eighty games after testing positive last year. Van Wagenen made this trade thinking that the Mets are in win now mode with no rebuild in mind and will contend in 2019. Van Wagenen was Cano’s former agent and he was able to get that huge ten-year $240 million contract for Cano when he signed with Seattle.

I still think this trade is worth it for the Mets. If Cano stays healthy Cano is going to be motivated about returning to New York. He can still hit and is an above average hitter. He proved that he can handle the pressure of playing in New York during those good years with the Yankees. 

Also, they received Edwin Diaz an elite closer and who is only twenty-four. He has four seasons of club control left. He can really throw the heat at 100 and had a 1.96 earned run average with 57 saves last year which is awesome. 

The great Mariano Rivera never had that many saves in a single season. If Diaz is dominant like last year and Cano stays healthy, they can make a huge impact for the Mets in 2019.

Bruce will be Seattle’s starting left fielder in 2019. Dunn was the Mets 2016 first round pick and was their 2018 minor league pitcher of the year. He spent time at High-A St. Lucie and AA Binghamton, combining for a record of 8-8 with a 3.59 earned run average.  

Kelenic was the Mets 2018 first round pick and batted 413 in the Gulf Coast League and then was promoted to Kingsport and batted 321. 

When you trade away prospects you never know how they will perform in the future. It is a trade that the Mets had to make since their mindset is win now. If those prospects become future stars and the Mets win it all in 2019 it is not a problem. In my opinion the Mets did not overpay in this trade. Van Wagenen said that more player transactions will come.