Call to the pen
Fansided

3 moves the New York Mets must make to counter Yankees trade for Andrew Benintendi

By Noah Yingling

PHILADELPHIA, PA - JULY 23: Willson Contreras #40 of the Chicago Cubs adjusts his ear piece to communicate to the pitcher through PitchCom during a game against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on July 23, 2022 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Cubs defeated the Phillies 6-2 in 10 innings. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - JULY 23: Willson Contreras #40 of the Chicago Cubs adjusts his ear piece to communicate to the pitcher through PitchCom during a game against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on July 23, 2022 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Cubs defeated the Phillies 6-2 in 10 innings. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 3
Next
Willson Contreras, Chicago Cubs, New York Mets
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – JULY 25: Willson Contreras #40 of the Chicago Cubs sits in the dugout during the eighth inning of a game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Wrigley Field on July 25, 2022 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Nuccio DiNuzzo/Getty Images) /

Trade for Chicago Cubs catcher Willson Contreras

This would be the move that could really put the Mets over the top and help them top the Yankees at the trade deadline.

Offensively, the Mets have been a trainwreck behind the plate. Catching is a very weak spot for hitting but the Mets’ catchers have a wRC+ of 50, or 50 percent below league average, which is second-last in baseball.

James McCann should help it some when he comes back from the IL (he’s currently on a minor league rehab assignment) but even in his 30 games this season, he had an OPS+ of 55.

Cubs catcher Willson Contreras almost certainly will be traded and he’s, arguably, the best hitting catcher out there. On the season, the NL All-Star starting catcher has hit .258/.373/.470 with 14 home runs, 37 RBI, 20 doubles, and an OPS+ of 135 in 82 games.

If the Mets get Contreras but especially if they can get Contreras, Drury, and Chafin, they could be the talk of the town more than the Yankees. Those additions and a healthy Jacob deGrom could be enough for them to win the World Series for the first time since 1986 and get manager Buck Showalter his first World Series title in 21 years of managing.

Next. Mets odds just went up in possible Andrew Chafin trade. dark

Home/New York Mets