The Yankees and Mets have made one significant deadline deal: In July 2003, Armando Benitez was sent to The Bronx for three prospects.
They should do something bigger now.
Lucas Duda should be moved to the Yankees for a four-player package: take a choice of 1) Jonathan Holder, Ben Heller, J.P Feyereisen or Giovanny Gallegos; 2) Domingo German or Ronald Herrera; 3) Tyler Austin or Garrett Cooper; and 4) Rob Refsnyder.
For the Yankees, Duda becomes the regular first baseman, turning Chase Headley into a backup at both first and third (to Todd Frazier). He would add lefty diversification to the lineup, and his power theoretically would play up even more at Yankee Stadium.
For the Mets, Duda is in his walk year and not in their future plans. They want to give Dominic Smith a two-month audition this year to see if he is ready for next season anyway, when the Mets plan to contend again.
The problem is that it is hard to find many current contenders clamoring for a first base/DH type. Perhaps the Mariners, but they are concentrating on using their chips to deepen their pitching staff — so Addison Reed is way more likely than Duda.
So the Yanks might be the only place to send Duda, and the Mets might as well get the best possible return rather than just lose him for nothing in the offseason, because I do not see them making him a qualifying offer.
The Yankees are positioned to give the Mets several items, because they are going to have trouble fitting all the players they like on the 40-man roster.
The Mets were caught this year without enough quality bullpen options, so they can pick whom they like best from Holder, Heller, Feyereisen and Gallegos. All had their futures with the Yankees further blocked by the addition of Tommy Kahnle and David Robertson, both of whom are under control through at least next year.
The Mets were caught this year without enough legitimate starting depth at Triple-A. So, they can pick from German or Herrera, who also could serve as power-armed relief options. For the Yankees, they have others ahead of that duo on their depth chart.
Austin or Cooper could be a righty complement to Smith and/or insurance and/or a bench bat. Neither has a long-term role for the Yankees, who still envision Greg Bird as their first baseman of the future.
As for Refsnyder, who currently is designated for assignment and must be traded by Wednesday or subjected to waivers, he fits Sandy Alderson’s offense-over-defense philosophy.
I always have wondered if Refsnyder could be Daniel Murphy lite. Refsnyder has terrific bat-to-ball skills and no obvious defensive position, but if he could learn what Murphy did along the way — the ability to pull the ball in the air for damage — could his value rise?
Just as a comparison, in 2008, at age 23, Murphy — at Single-A, Double-A and Triple-A — combined to hit .315 with a .379 on-base percentage and a .493 slugging percentage. In 2014, at age 23, Refsnyder, at Double-A and Triple-A, combined to hit .318 with a .387 on-base percentage and a .497 slugging percentage.
Here are some other thoughts on where the Mets could send their available players. These are all my ideas — not things I have been told are possible — and mostly informed by the Mets not having overly attractive chips and needing to turn them into something rather than lose them for nothing:
Addison Reed to the Rockies for Tom Murphy and Colton Welker
Greg Holland, Jack McGee and Chris Rusin have been the only dependable Colorado relievers, and the team is worried about burning them out in the hunt for a wild card. Murphy, after a strong cameo last year, has struggled in 2017 with a broken hand and poor performance in the majors. He becomes a catching option for the Mets next year if they move on from Travis d’Arnaud. Welker is a 19-year-old third baseman tearing up low-A. The Mets must be careful not to overplay their hand with Reed, because there are plenty of righty relief options available such as Atlanta’s Jim Johnson, Philadelphia’s Pat Neshek and Baltimore’s Brad Brach.
Asdrubal Cabrera to the Indians for Yandy Diaz
The Indians could use Cabrera to play second until Jason Kipnis returns from a hamstring strain, and then he would become a switch-hitter off the bench. Diaz did not do well with his major league debut this year, but he offers on-base possibilities and defense at third in the future for the Mets. Cabrera played his first 7 ¹/₂ seasons with the Indians.
Jay Bruce to the Royals for Nate Karns
Kansas City is trying to go for it in what is almost certainly the final year with this team, in the walk-year of Lorenzo Cain, Eric Hosmer and Mike Moustakas. DH Brandon Moss has come alive a bit, but Bruce provides depth there and plays right field, with Jorge Bonifacio becoming a fourth outfielder. Karns is a wild card for the Mets. He just had thoracic outlet surgery. If he makes it back, the righty provides depth for either the 2018 rotation or bullpen.
Curtis Granderson to the Mariners for Max Povse
Granderson could be a lefty counter-balance for Mitch Haniger or Guillermo Heredia and, perhaps, even play some center field to provide better offense than Jarrod Dyson, with Dyson able to come in late as a defensive replacement. For the Mets, this is mainly about salary relief. Seattle is one of the few teams that has indicated some willingness to take on salary at this time of year, plus one of the few that could make a case for a player such as Granderson. Thus, the Mets cannot ask for much in return beyond that, and Povse becomes more Triple-A pitching depth.
Neil Walker to the Brewers for Jacob Nottingham and Freddy Peralta
This is predicated on Walker showing he is healthy, of course. Jonathan Villar has underperformed this season. Eric Sogard likely will get regular playing time at second. But if Milwaukee got Walker, Sogard becomes more of a super-sub and Walker — with lots of big-game experience and years in the NL Central — brings veteran stability to a young team in a playoff race. The Mets hope Nottingham can regain better prospect status as a catcher and take a flier on a good arm in Peralta.