Reese Kaplan -- Bicoastal Trade That Could be a Win-Win

OK, it’s officially that time of the year where WATPs (Wild-Assed Trade Proposals) run wild and run free.  There’s no harm in playing armchair GM but as the hot stove starts to heat up it’s time to get down to business about who you would target and what you’re willing to send packing in order to obtain the player(s) in question.

The Los Angeles media has been rife with speculation about Japanese import Kenta Maeda.  He was signed from the roster of the Hiroshima Carp back in 2016.  He came across the Pacific with great fanfare having won the equivalent of the Cy Young Award in Japan not once but twice. 

Over eight seasons there he was 97-67 with a 2.37 ERA.  He exhibited excellent control and maintained a 3.60 to 1 strikeout to walk ratio.  For those reasons the Dodgers took a flyer on him and signed him to an eight year $25 million contract chock full of incentives that could lead to up to $10 million per year in additional money. 

Right now Maeda is quite disgruntled with the Dodgers who have had him started off in the rotation but each of the past three seasons they have shifted him into the bullpen for the stretch run.  Part of it could be that he was pitching well and they felt he would be a good bridge to closer Kenley Jansen.  More likely, however, the Dodgers were doing it for economic reasons to keep him from starting X number of games or accruing Y number of wins.  This usage done once would be understandable but done three times it would seem that Maeda has a legitimate gripe.  When the hurler expressed his dissatisfaction to the front office they curtly said, “Pitch better!”  No one likes to have malcontent players on their roster and it might be worth dialing the Dodgers to see what it might take to pry loose Mr. Maeda. 

Why would the Mets want him? 

Well, if you peruse BaseballReference.com you will see that the similarity scores list none other than Zack Wheeler as a comp for Kenta Maeda.  Isn’t that interesting? 

However, talent is often a secondary consideration for the Mets front office.  Here’s where it gets even better.  Remember that long term contract?  Maeda is under team control for four more years at (get this) just $3.125 million per year.  Even if he hit all of his incentives and got an additional $10 million per year as a full-time starter, how many here think the Mets will find a Maeda/Wheeler level of talent for $13.125 million per season?  Speculation is running rampant Wheeler is in the $20 million or more per year range. 

Maeda for his major league career is 47-35 with a 3.87 ERA, less than 3 walks per game and still a 3.60 strikeout to walk ratio.   Obtaining him would fill that Wheeler void nicely, but he also would serve well out of the pen if indeed that need arose. 

Now, comes the tough part.  What would it take to get him?  I’m thinking Dominic Smith is definitely a part of that deal.  Max Muncy can shift to 2B if the 21-year-old Gavin Lux doesn’t transition well to the majors.  Smith could then take his customary spot at 1^st base.  Being from the Los Angeles area it would be a homecoming of sorts for the Mets former first round pick.

Now Smith comes at minimum wage for a few more years, so he’s a pretty fair start by himself.  You might want to include some wildcard type prospects that are not necessarily on the team's long term radar.  It’s this type of creative trade that could help the Mets address one of their most pressing needs.