Ever since the conclusion of the 2014 season, the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Chicago Cubs have been identified perfect trade partners for the New York Mets. But a team that had not garnered much attention prior to the 2014 season may have the perfect player on their roster, and he might come at the perfect price.
Coming off two straight subpar seasons in Single-A, the Royals have to be frustrated that their number one prospect, Raul Mondesi, is not producing results at the minor league level. In fact, Mondesi barely eclipsed the .200 batting average mark with High-A Wilmington and struck out 122 times in only 110 games in 2014. However, despite the poor average, there were still a few bright spots in Mondesi’s otherwise dull season. Mondesi was almost five years younger than the average Carolina league ballplayer, yet he still managed to steal 17 bases, triple 12 times, and slug 8 home runs in 2014, exhibiting the leadoff qualities that perfectly fit the Mets approach. Furthermore, Mondesi provides excellent defense at shortstop, a valuable asset even if he never hits above .270 in the major leagues. And even though the Dominican prospect is a few years away from the bigs, Sandy Alderson’s recent comments reveal that the Mets are content giving Wilmer Flores a chance to man shortstop, at least for part of the 2015 season.
On the flipside of the potential trade, the Royals need to replace James Shields if they want any chance to carry last season’s success into 2015. While some have pinpointed former first round pick Kyle Zimmer as heir to Shields’ thrown, the 21 year-old’s nagging shoulder problems and lack of big league experience make it tough for the Royals to rely on the towering righty to supplant the most valuable member of their staff.
If the Royals have to look outside the organization for starting pitching, there’s no team that’s more suited for a trade than the New York Mets. Even after taking the Harvey, Syndergaard, deGrom, and Wheeler out of the equation, Kansas City is still looking at enticing prospects Rafael Montero and Steven Matz, or seasoned vets like Dillon Gee, Bartolo Colon, or Jon Niese.
While Mondesi has struggled throughout his professional career, there is no doubt that the Royals regard him as highly as any prospect in their system. One player will likely not be enough to reel in such a rare talent, but if the Mets paired veteran lefty Jon Niese with a mid-level prospect like Matt Reynolds, the Royals might be inclined to pull the trigger.
The Royals shed the risk of betting on a struggling prospect by turning him into a proven quantity on a team-friendly contract. The Mets get a potential impact shortstop at the top of their lineup, something they desperately need. In other words, trading Mondesi to the Mets is a win-win for both sides.
Acquiring Mondesi primes the Mets for a championship run as early as 2016, but it also allows the Royals the chance to pursue another title while their core is still intact. Letting Mondesi wither in the minors while he still holds value would be a foolish move for the Kansas City Royals front office. Jon Niese is no James shields, but the 27 year-old southpaw may be the best cost-effective option available for an already talented Royals team. It’s rare when a trade works out equally well for both teams involved, but swapping Raul Mondesi with Jon Niese grants both New York and Kansas City a shot at sustaining success for a long time.