If the Mets are going to deal one of their promising young arms, they need to get a better return than Andrelton Simmons.
The Braves are dangling the defensive wizard of a shortstop at the Mets in exchange for one of their many solid starting pitchers, which includes 2014 Rookie of the Year Jacob deGrom, Matt Harvey, Noah Syndergaard and Steven Matz, according to Adam Rubin of ESPN.
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Rubin adds that at some point the Braves may even ask for Zack Wheeler, who is an Atlanta native, but for now they're setting their sights higher as the right-hander won't return from his Tommy John surgery until June or July at the earliest. The Mets aren't inclined to make a trade with the Braves for Simmons, and that's the right call.
The Mets have such a glut in their rotation that if a major trade comes along, they should pounce on it, but a Simmons for Harvey, deGrom or Syndergaard deal would be foolish. If Atlanta agrees to a straight up trade for Matz, New York should maybe consider it given his lack of MLB experience, but other than that the Amazin's need to be smart with their trade chips.
Right now the Braves are asking for one of the core four young pitchers from the Mets for shortstop Andrelton... https://t.co/EQxjK0ITaP
— Adam Rubin (@AdamRubinESPN) November 12, 2015
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Simmons is incredible in the field and arguably the best defensive shortstop in the game. The Braves infielder finished with 25 defensive runs saved in 2015, according to Fangraphs. He'd be a huge defensive upgrade for the Mets over their planned shortstop combination of Ruben Tejada (-15) and Wilmer Flores (-10).
While his defense is great, the Mets need someone in the middle of their lineup to mash and replace the void that will likely be left by free agents Daniel Murphy and Yoenis Cespedes. Simmons is not that person.
The two-time Gold Glove award winner owned a .265 batting average in 2015, which was actually his highest mark since his rookie season. The shortstop isn't the type of hitter that would warrant trading one of the club's big starters for.
Sure, defense is key, especially considering how many games New York gave away to Kansas City in the World Series this year due to sloppy fielding, but to deal one of its aces for Simmons wouldn't be a smart move. The Mets badly need an outfielder with Cespedes moving on and Juan Lagares' defense declining in 2015, so if a trade presents itself on that front, the Amazin's should pursue it.
Until the Mets get blown away by a trade, they should stand pat with their young guns.
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