New York Mets Trade Deadline Candidates: Who Stays and Who Goes?
The Mets have several players who could draw interest at the trade deadline. Here are the names they should consider trading -- and the ones they should keep.
As the 2026 MLB trade deadline approaches, speculation has begun over which players will be moved. Among the teams drawing the most attention are the New York Mets.
Due to New York’s treacherous season, they are going to be sellers at the trade deadline. The Mets have plenty of players who hold value in trade talks and could be moved at the deadline. The combination of the Mets’ abundance of trade candidates and a market with significantly more buyers than sellers creates the perfect storm for New York.
Reports have surfaced in recent weeks that the Mets’ strategy will be to acquire the best talent possible regardless of position or experience. This is due to the fact that their plan is to turn right around and attempt to contend in 2027, presumably flipping players acquired at this year’s deadline for win-now pieces this winter.
The Mets have eight realistic players who could garner solid returns on the trade market in the coming weeks.
Let’s take a closer look at these eight and determine whether the Mets should hold on to them or ship them elsewhere in exchange for a return.
Huascar Brazoban
2026 Stats: 39 G, 6 GS, 45.2 IP, 1.09 WHIP, 3.47 FIP, 8.67 K/9, 4.14 BB/9
Contract Details: Set to hit free agency after 2029 season
The Mets’ acquisition of Brazoban at the 2024 deadline is one of the most underrated moves in all of baseball across the last few seasons. He has been nothing short of spectacular in his time with New York and has upped his game in 2026.
With three years of control remaining, the right-hander could net a significant return for the Mets. However, given the fact that he has shown the ability to be effective in every possible role on the mound, his value to the Mets’ future may be too steep to ship away.
Brazoban is the type of arm that every winning team would love to have on their staff, and if the reports on the Mets’ future plans are true, they should keep Brazoban around for the long haul.
Verdict: Stay
Clay Holmes
2026 Stats: 9 GS, 52.2 IP, 1.10 WHIP, 3.21 FIP, 7.69 K/9, 3.08 BB/9
Contract Details: $12 million player option for 2027
It is still unclear when or if Holmes will return to the field in 2026. He has began to throw in recent weeks as he continues to rehab from a fractured fibula he suffered in May.
Before the injury, Holmes was off to a great start, leading the Mets’ staff through the first six weeks of the season.
The uncertainty of Holmes’ health certainly hurts his value on the trade market, but for a non-competitive team like New York, they can’t risk Holmes declining his $12 million player option this winter and walking away in free agency for nothing.
It will all come down to the status of his health and how he is progressing ahead of the August 3 trade deadline. But on performance alone, he should bring in a nice package.
Verdict: Go
A.J. Minter
2026 Stats: 19 G, 19 IP, 0.84 WHIP, 2.84 FIP, 8.05 K/9, 0.47 BB/9
Contract Details: Set to hit free agency after 2026 season
Similar to Holmes, Minter has some injury concerns that will hurt his trade value. The 32-year-old is still ramping up following his April 2025 lat surgery, and so far has not been available on back-to-back days out of the bullpen.
Minter has made the most of his limited appearances, only surrendering three earned runs thus far.
Despite injury concerns, this is a no-brainer for the Mets: They have to trade Minter. Between the success he has had this season, the high demand for left-handed relief pitching among contenders, and his impending free agency, New York has to cash out on his value while they can.
Verdict: Go
Freddy Peralta
2026 Stats: 20 GS, 104.1 IP, 1.44 WHIP, 4.38 FIP, 8.97 K/9, 3.80 BB/9
Contract Details: Set to hit free agency after 2026 season
Out of the eight players listed here, Peralta is the one that may be the most valuable. He has been nothing short of a major disappointment for New York this season, but his strong track record paired with a demand for starting pitching could yield a great return for the Mets.
With the Milwaukee Brewers, Peralta showcased the ability to pitch well in the postseason, and despite his underwhelming tenure with the Mets, teams reportedly still will pay a high price based on what he produced prior to this season.
This is another easy decision for David Stearns and Mets brass: Peralta must be moved to recoup at least some value from the deal they struck for him back in January. It certainly is a tough pill to swallow, as nobody envisioned this conversation with the veteran right-hander taking place at this point in the season, but here we are.
Verdict: Go
Brooks Raley
2026 Stats: 39 G, 35.1 IP, 1.13 WHIP, 3.16 FIP, 9.17 K/9, 3.31 BB/9
Contract Details: Set to hit free agency after the 2026 season
Raley is another no-brainer for the Mets: He has to be dealt elsewhere due to his performance and impending free agency.
Since returning from Tommy John surgery late last season, the veteran southpaw has been extremely effective out of the bullpen once again this season. Raley may not offer the elite backend stuff that many contending teams are looking for, but he still holds a fair amount of value as a bullpen-solidifying lefty.
Verdict: Go
Luke Weaver
2026 Stats: 37 G, 39 IP, 0.82 WHIP, 2.49 FIP, 9.92 K/9, 2.54 BB/9
Contract Details: Owed $12.5 million in 2027; set to hit free agency after 2027 season
In a year where virtually everything has gone wrong for the Mets, Weaver has been a shining light in a dark season.
He has not allowed an earned run since April 30, and he has by no stretch of the imagination dodged and weaved (pun intended) to keep that streak alive. Weaver has allowed almost no traffic on the bases, which is reflected in his sparkling WHIP.
The decision on Weaver is a tough one for the Mets because of how strong of a season he has had. The type of production they have gotten out of him is a bargain at his price point for next season.
However, New York needs to take a step back and make the right decision, which is to trade Weaver when his value is highest.
Sure, it would be nice to hold onto him and have him as a major piece of the bullpen in 2027, but relief pitching is historically volatile, and they cannot bank on getting this type of production again next year.
When they do so, New York should target a major league-ready starting pitcher with team control. Giving the Seattle Mariners a call for one of their starters in exchange for an elite high-leverage reliever is one course of action the Mets could take.
Verdict: Go
Francisco Alvarez
2026 Stats: 64 G, .254/.317/.416, 9 HR, 0 SB, 22 RBI, 106 wRC+, 0.8 fWAR
Contract Details: Set to hit free agency after 2029 season
Alvarez receives a mention here simply due to the fact that some rumors have emerged around him in the days leading up to the All-Star break.
While New York could explore a deal for their young, controllable catcher, the reality is that they do not have anyone in-house to replace him. While Luis Torrens just received a contract extension and will remain in the mix, he is viewed as a glove-first backup option.
Alvarez has not lived up to his top-prospect pedigree, but there are only a handful of catchers in baseball who offer the same offensive upside as him.
Verdict: Stay
Bo Bichette
2026 Stats: 96 G, .255/.300/.376, 10 HR, 1 SB, 51 RBI, 89 wRC+, 0.9 fWAR
Contract Details: Opt-out option after 2026 season; two years, $84 million remaining on contract
Trading Bichette is virtually impossible due to the uncertainty surrounding the CBA after the season and his performance this year.
He has thrived at the plate since the start of June, but due to his brutal first two months of the season, his numbers are still below league average. It remains to be seen whether Bichette will opt in to his contract for next season and remain with New York or test the open market for the second consecutive offseason.
Nevertheless, the option to trade Bichette likely will not be available, even if the Mets want to move on from him. It is a lose-lose situation for New York, as the team may not have an opportunity to recoup value through a trade. Additionally, if Bichette performs well over the final three months of the season, he could opt out of his contract and enter free agency this winter.
Verdict: Stay
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Written by
Joe Browne is an aspiring sports journalist and is currently a freshman at St. John's University. Joe is a lifelong Mets fan who is also passionate…