Reese Kaplan -- Instead of More Pawns The Mets Need a Rook(er)

Most Mets fans are quite familiar with all of the options available on National League teams when looking for players who could indeed help propel the team into the playoffs.  For American League teams the fans know the best of the best from headlines and All Star game appearances, but the players from second tier teams are not quite as present on the fan radar.

While there have been innumerable stories about the need for the Mets to pursue slugger Eugenio Suarez from the Diamondbacks.  The numbers are highly impressive.  He’s hitting .252 with 36 HRs and already tallied 86 RBIs.  

There’s no disputing his all time best season has come at the right time as he is eligible to be a free agent at year’s end.  His current salary is just $15 million so it would be fair to assume that for two months of Suarez slugging you’d be giving the Diamondbacks the sun, the moon and the stars.

Much less on folks’ radar is the late blooming DH playing for Oakland named Brent Rooker.  He finally became a regular at age 28 after floundering since 2020 with the Twins, Padres and Royals.  During his first year in Oakland in 2023 his batting average wasn’t much — just .246 — but he accompanied it with 30 HRs and earned his first All Star berth.  The following year he showed what he could do with a .293 average with 39 HRs and 112 RBIs.  

Oddly, for that increased production he didn’t become an All Star, but got his second nod this season where he thus far has hit .275 with 21 HRs and 56 RBIs.  The 30 HR plateau is certainly within reach though he might top out in the 80-90 RBI range.

Where it becomes interesting is the contract that could make or break a prospective Rooker trade.  

He’s only earning $4 million this season and that alone should have pushed him to the top of every team’s list of desired additions.  However, he was given a long term deal by his employer that ensures him salaries of $8 million, $14 million, $15 million and $19 million over the next four years.  That is an average of $14 million per season.  

It’s not an astronomical number but it is enough of an obligation to scare off perhaps 1/3 of the potential trading partners.  There is also a $22 million vesting option for the 2030 season which is tied to his standing in the MVP voting.  This wrinkle could perhaps scare off more teams.

Now the Athletics are going to move shortly to a new stadium in a new city and need some backbone to generate interest in front of the fans who never before saw them 81 times per year.  As such, they might be reluctant to peddle their best hitter to another team even if it brings with it a huge amount of financial relief.  

If the Athletics hold firm on a full pay deal then you would think the price in players offered in return would actually drop down a bit given the hook the new team would be on for salaries between now and perhaps 2030. 

Given that the Mets have only once had a DH who should have been an All Star caliber player in J.D. Martinez who did not give the Mets the productivity they had anticipated based upon his long and impressive track record.  Obtaining Rooker would help give the team DH options way better than anyone they’ve used in the past.  

As a right handed slugger, Rooker would provide them a second big bat to go along with Pete Alonso while Brandon Nimmo and Juan Soto handle the left side and Francisco Lindor is a switch hitter.  Think for a minute what a 30 home run hitter would add to the team’s ability to score runs.

What would it take to get Rooker?  I have no idea.  I wouldn’t hesitate to trade away a few high level prospects who are still unproven to get someone who is a two-time All Star working on his third straight season of 30 home runs.  

These choices could include one or more of the Acuna, Baty, Mauricio and Vientos infield options as well as pitchers Sproat, Tidwell, Hamel and others.  Some combination from this group might get it done.  Remember, the Mets would be assuming from $56 to $78 million of salary obligation, so the players offered up don’t necessarily have to be the top five prospect level. 

Would you do it?