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00:00This is Straight Outta Flushing, brought to you by your local Ford stores.
00:04Ford F-150 is the official truck of the New York Mets.
00:09What's good, everybody? Welcome back to another edition of Straight Outta Flushing.
00:13It's your boy Dexter Henry, alongside my guy, the one and only Tyler Ward, a.k.a. Wardy.
00:20And if you see Wardy, he is fresh off of Fanatics Fets, and he's got a fresh fit on.
00:24It's blue and orange everything. You see he's got the Knicks hat that he's rocking there, looking really good there.
00:28I like the hat, Wardy. You'd almost think I was doing New York God game, but it's not.
00:31I like the hat. It's looking good. How you doing?
00:34Oh, it's a smooth transition for you, Dex.
00:35Whether you're talking Mets or Knicks, you've always got the orange and blue, right?
00:38So I'm happy to rep, and hey, I was basically wearing the same thing on Fanatics Fets,
00:42because even if I'm a Mets rep, it doesn't change the fact that it's next summer.
00:46It's next wave, and we've got to ride it while we can. Now's the time to do it.
00:50Yeah, you've got to do that. You know what else is coming?
00:52I wouldn't call it a summer, but it is the time period that we're in right now.
00:56Now, it's officially trade season. The All-Star break is over.
01:01Baseball is back in form. We are approaching that August 3rd trade deadline.
01:05There is a lot to talk about with the Mets on this,
01:08so we're going to try to get through some stuff pretty quickly here for the fans here.
01:12A lot of stuff to talk about. One thing I wanted to talk to you about
01:15was this report that came out this week from The Athletic
01:18that Francisco Lindor, unlikely to be traded, Wardy.
01:23Does that simply confirm the obvious, or does it tell us something bigger
01:26about how David Stearns is or might be approaching this trade deadline?
01:30What did you make of that report from Will Salmon out of The Athletic?
01:35I think it's accurate. You know, everything that I know about Will,
01:37and you know about Will, too, he's not one to try to steer us
01:40in a different direction. He's just saying what he knows.
01:42And everything about the Lindor rumors has always been with a heavy unlikelihood.
01:46But because it's Francisco Lindor and not just any Joe Schmo on the Mets roster,
01:51we have to have these discussions, maybe a bit more than certain fans want to see
01:55or hear happen. But when you have a star shortstop,
01:58that has been very underwhelming this season up until the day that we're talking,
02:02funny enough, as he got on base all five times for the Mets,
02:05and their 6-1 went over the Phillies.
02:06So Lindor woke up. That's great. I hope that continues for him this season.
02:10And I do not anticipate him to be traded at this year's deadline,
02:14so I agree with Will there.
02:15But I do think it's still, you can look at it in both lenses and say both are true.
02:20Is the likelihood of the Mets trading Lindor strong right now?
02:22No, of course it isn't.
02:24But knowing that the Mets have his name out there and are listening
02:27and are fielding offers publicly in ways that they have in recent years
02:30is an obvious sign that depending on how this second half goes with Lindor,
02:34depending on how not only he but Soto and the other true pieces of this core group,
02:39Carson Mench, A.J. Ewing, who Lindor said postgame earlier today,
02:43he's looking forward to playing with them for years to come.
02:45Is that Lindor throwing a nugget out there to say,
02:47hey, you know, I don't want to go anywhere? Possibly.
02:50What I know, though, is that for a Mets team that has failed the way
02:53that they have this season, not making playoffs feels like an absolute certainty right now.
02:57And because of that, everything's uncertain about these players and their future.
03:01I said that heading into the year decks, I feel the same way now.
03:03I never would ever, ever suggest that you should trade Francisco Lindor,
03:07or even fathom the idea, unless you have the year
03:10the Mets are currently finding themselves having.
03:13So, throwing it back to you, Dex, what was your initial impression
03:16of the Lindor rumblings, Will kind of shooting it down,
03:19and do you think that we could see something maybe drastically change
03:22from now up until August 3rd?
03:24So, before I get to that, I just want to hit on something you said,
03:27because the comment that Lindor had after the 6-1 win over the Phillies on Sunday
03:31I thought was very interesting, too.
03:33Wardy, I looked at that and said, huh, that is him trying to say,
03:36let it be known through the media, I'm not trying to go anywhere.
03:40I still want to be here.
03:41I want to be part of the solution for the future.
03:44Now, whether the Mets should do that or not,
03:45as far as the reporting that came out of The Athletic,
03:48yes, we're not saying that we don't think it's accurate,
03:50because I absolutely do think it's accurate.
03:53But what I took from it was, hmm, this is notable that the reporting
03:57is that he is unlikely to be traded,
04:00but that's not saying that his name hasn't been out there, right,
04:03or the Mets wouldn't explore options of trading him,
04:06not saying that it would happen this season.
04:08That was my major takeaway, and I think when you hear that,
04:11that tells you, and this is why I was asking you,
04:13I was wondering, okay, what does it tell you about how David Stearns
04:16might approach this deadline?
04:18Well, a lot of options are on the table, right?
04:21That's what it tells you here.
04:22They'll listen.
04:23If somebody really wants to come and get Francisco Lindor,
04:26they will listen for that.
04:28And here, I'm with you on this.
04:29Where the Mets are right now,
04:31that we are talking about today here in 2026,
04:34as they try to look to eye 2027 and beyond,
04:38nothing should be off the table.
04:39Outside of guys that we mentioned,
04:41and I think it was a couple episodes ago,
04:42we talked about, right, Soto, McLean, Benj, Ewing,
04:46those guys should be.
04:47I would put Francisco Lindor on that list,
04:50but if you wanted to talk about it,
04:52considering where you're trying to go in the direction of the club
04:54and who you think should be the faces of the club
04:57on the next good Mets team,
04:58then I am absolutely fine with that.
05:01So, for me, this was something where I said,
05:03hmm, this is an organization, maybe,
05:06just maybe, Wardy, maybe,
05:08I want to be very clear, I'm saying maybe here,
05:10might be trying to be proactive.
05:13Just could be trying to be proactive.
05:14Let's not get ahead of ourselves in our decks.
05:16Well, listen, listen,
05:19they're usually reacting, right?
05:21I'm not saying they're going to be exactly proactive and do it,
05:23but they're actually thinking about some other options
05:26and really thinking about the fact that this is beyond.
05:28I mean it in that sense, just to be clear.
05:30It doesn't mean I think they're actively going to trade
05:32for Francisco Lindor,
05:33but I think you really have to think about this.
05:35Now, here's the thing.
05:36A lot of general managers,
05:39presidents of baseball operations,
05:41a lot of guys are thinking about what their job is,
05:45trying to keep their job.
05:46And we have acknowledged here on this show,
05:48Davis Stearns is on the hot seat.
05:51The seat is hot, okay?
05:53This has been a disappointing season.
05:56So, I think that he's thinking not about
05:58all the way down the road,
06:00but how can he keep the most talent
06:02around and on this team
06:04to also be competitive
06:05so he can have his job in 2027 and beyond.
06:10And so, one way to maybe do that and maximize it
06:13could be to look at what the market is
06:15for Francisco Lindor.
06:16You've got to look at the market, man.
06:18I've seen no problem with it.
06:19Do I think he gets traded?
06:21No.
06:22Do I think it's notable that you should think
06:24about the fact that they are looking
06:26at what the market could be with him?
06:28I think that's notable.
06:29I think that should be the major takeaway from this.
06:32Oh, no, I agree.
06:33And I think as we inch closer to the trade deadline,
06:35we're going to continue to hear reporting
06:37that might be contradicting in a 12-24 hour span
06:40of previous reporting, too.
06:41We're going to kind of see a lot of snip-snap,
06:43back and forth, if you will,
06:44going on as to kind of, okay,
06:46what should we buy into versus what we should?
06:47And now that people aren't stating things
06:49that are factually correct
06:50because they're getting sources
06:51from different types of info
06:53around the clubhouse,
06:54around, you know, rival execs,
06:56what have you.
06:57But, nonetheless, from now up until the deadline,
07:00expect a lot more chatter
07:02on not only Lindor,
07:03but the laundry list of options
07:06that the Mets have to choose from
07:07when it comes to partying ways with guys.
07:09What I will say to that is,
07:10Warty, there's something I always talk about
07:13and I call trade season.
07:14Trade season is also known as a lying season.
07:17And I'm not saying that everybody is lying,
07:19but what I'm saying is a lot of information
07:21that's pushed out there
07:22to increase the value of players,
07:23sometimes decrease the value of players.
07:25There's sometimes some misinformation.
07:27You've got to think about,
07:28why is this information out here?
07:29Who's putting this information out here?
07:32Why is this player saying this?
07:33This is why I brought up
07:34Francesco Lindor's comments
07:35after the 6-1 victory
07:36over the Phillies on Sunday.
07:38Why are these comments being made?
07:40Keep your eye on what's being said,
07:41the timing of it coming out.
07:43Warty, you're 100% right.
07:44We're going to see a lot more of this.
07:46Some is going to be true.
07:47Some is going to have some truth.
07:49The truth always lies somewhere.
07:51And some of it is going to be
07:52completely utter BS
07:54to throw other teams
07:55and other people off track.
07:57It's line season, man.
07:58This is what happens.
08:00It's a leverage game.
08:02We notice it to a degree
08:04at the traded line,
08:04but especially in the offseason.
08:06I'm not going to say any names,
08:08but there's definitely
08:09a certain agent out there.
08:11Very charismatic.
08:13I wonder who that could be.
08:14I wonder who that could be.
08:14I like to lean people
08:15in a certain direction
08:16when maybe that's not
08:17where they should be leaning.
08:19We see this kind of,
08:20to a certain degree,
08:22manipulation through the media.
08:23It works at times too
08:24because, again,
08:25there's a lot of people
08:26that are chomping on the bit
08:27to get this information out there
08:28that regardless as to
08:30what's going to come of it or not,
08:31it's going to cause chatter,
08:32especially when it's hot stove season
08:34or in the case of,
08:35you know, trade at a line.
08:37It's our version of a hot stove
08:38during the season.
08:39You know, it gets spicy.
08:40So staying on this spicy topic,
08:42now, Dex,
08:44we got to go on
08:45from talking about
08:45Francisco Lindor
08:46to getting into
08:47who are the guys
08:48that we see
08:49as most likely to be dealt.
08:51So starting with you, Dex,
08:52let's hop right into this.
08:53We got five individual players
08:55from both sides here.
08:56We're probably going to have
08:57some overlap, I'm sure.
08:58So let's start with your five.
09:00Just let's get the quick rundown.
09:01Who do you think
09:02is the most likely to be traded?
09:04So I'm pulling up my five here
09:06that I had.
09:07Now, do you want me to go in order?
09:10Top of the list?
09:10The one to five?
09:11Or do you want to,
09:12or do you not care?
09:13Just give me one.
09:14Go five to one.
09:14Let me go five to one.
09:16Okay.
09:17I'm going at five
09:19who Oscar Brazabine.
09:21Okay?
09:21I have my five.
09:22And you're going to know
09:23there's a commonality
09:24with everybody
09:25in terms of what
09:26all these players do.
09:28Oscar Brazabine at five.
09:30AJ Minter at four.
09:32Brooks Raley, three.
09:35Freddie Peralta, two.
09:37And I'm putting Luke Weaver
09:38at one.
09:39So all arms,
09:40all pitchers.
09:41I could have flip-flopped
09:42with Weaver and Peralta,
09:44but I just think
09:45the reliever market
09:47is going to be very interesting.
09:49I think teams can get
09:50a little bit more desperate here.
09:51And I think
09:53David Stearns might be able
09:54to use that with Weaver.
09:55So I'm going Weaver likely at one.
09:57I know some Mets fans
09:57are going to tell me
09:58I don't want to trade Weaver.
09:59You and I have talked
10:00about this, Wardy.
10:01I think you,
10:02we talked about this
10:04last week,
10:04the week before.
10:05If you can get something
10:07good for him,
10:08you got to do it, man.
10:10Because I think
10:11you said this to me.
10:12His value is never
10:13going to be better
10:13than what it is right now.
10:16Correct.
10:16You've got to move in.
10:18And I just think
10:20a lot of teams around baseball,
10:21a lot of contenders,
10:22right?
10:23They're going to be looking,
10:24we'll get to this
10:24a little bit later,
10:25they're going to be looking
10:26for good arms
10:26that they can trust
10:27who've played
10:28and pitched in big
10:29postseason games,
10:30big time September,
10:31October baseball.
10:32They're going to look for that.
10:33Luke Weaver fits the bill
10:34on that.
10:35So if you can get
10:37a high-level prospect,
10:38maybe another low-level
10:39prospect for him,
10:40or more,
10:41if you can get teams
10:42in a bidding war,
10:43you got to do it.
10:44I think just he's
10:45the best trade ship
10:46and also the most likely
10:47that you can start
10:48a bidding war over.
10:48So I have him as number one
10:49as my most likely
10:51Mets player to be traded.
10:53So we have the same players
10:54for the most part
10:55in our mix.
10:55Oh, okay.
10:56The only thing that is
10:57the clear difference
10:58is that this might come
10:59as a surprise to you.
11:00I think still undoubtedly
11:02the most likely
11:03to be traded is Peralta.
11:04He has been the one
11:05that has consistently
11:06been a part of this mix
11:06longer than anyone else.
11:08Before we even started
11:08to talk about,
11:09all right,
11:09should we start nitpicking
11:10and prodding the bullpen?
11:11Should we, you know,
11:12toss the Giardians,
11:13the Vientos is the Beatty's,
11:15the Mauricio's of the world.
11:16You know, no,
11:17when it comes to above all,
11:19Peralta has been
11:19that one kind of certainty
11:21where I'll be shocked
11:22if he's a Met
11:23after the trade deadline
11:24for more reasons than one.
11:25I mean,
11:26it's not even the fact
11:27that he's been,
11:27you know,
11:28inconsistent here.
11:29Just there's just
11:30so much obvious reasons
11:30as to why you should
11:31part ways with them
11:32from the contract stats
11:33to him even having
11:34an openness
11:35and a willingness
11:35to return here
11:36if we really want him.
11:37I don't know
11:37if it's in the best interest
11:38of the New York Mets
11:39if they really want him
11:40as we get in 2027
11:41right now either
11:42because he hasn't shown
11:43that consistency enough.
11:44You know what I mean?
11:45So I think there's enough
11:46there to say,
11:46Freddie,
11:47unfortunately,
11:48this did not work out
11:48the way that we all wanted.
11:50Not like Brandon Sprott
11:51and Jet Williams
11:51have been laying
11:52the world on fire
11:52for the Brewers,
11:53but, you know,
11:54there's still time for that
11:55and how ironic
11:56the Brewers actually
11:57might be in the market
11:58for a Freddie Peralta reunion
11:59at the Brewers deadline.
12:00That is crazy,
12:00but true.
12:01That is crazy.
12:02Isn't that crazy?
12:02Yeah, that's crazy.
12:03We're going to talk about
12:03that in content
12:04with you this week,
12:04I'm sure,
12:05but because Brandon Woodruff
12:06going down
12:06with a shoulder injury,
12:08they have a whole wrench
12:09thrown into their plans
12:10down the stretch here,
12:10so I'll take Brandon Sprott
12:12and Jet Williams.
12:13I don't know about you.
12:13Oh, you're like,
12:15come on back.
12:16Come on back.
12:17Come on back.
12:18Like, nothing ever changed,
12:19but I'm going to put
12:20Freddie at one.
12:22Two, I'm actually going
12:23to be going here
12:24with AJ Minter.
12:26Really?
12:27Okay.
12:27I'm putting Luke, really.
12:28And I'm not Luke, really.
12:30I'm putting Luke Weaver.
12:31And the reason why
12:31I have Weaver at three
12:32and then, of course,
12:33you're going to have
12:34Reilly at four
12:35and then at five,
12:36you could probably put
12:37anywhere from Brazoban
12:39to if you wanted to throw
12:40one of those infielders
12:41I just said
12:42because the Mets
12:42are absolutely trading
12:43one of them.
12:44Will they trade
12:45more than one?
12:45Who knows?
12:46I think David Stern
12:46just loves to collect guys
12:48far longer than they should
12:48stay on the team, obviously,
12:49so we'll see.
12:51What a shock.
12:51What a shock of a statement
12:52from you, Morty.
12:53What a shock.
12:54I know.
12:54It was shocking.
12:55Crazy.
12:56Luke Weaver, though,
12:56the reason why I have
12:57him at three and not one
12:58is because I agree.
12:59I think he potentially
13:01has the best return
13:02coming from the New York Mets
13:03depending on how they play this
13:04and how desperate teams are.
13:06However, Luke's ability
13:08to pitch in New York
13:09and someone who loves it here
13:10is why I think
13:12if there is a role
13:13where the Mets
13:13comfortably trade
13:14AJ Minter,
13:15Brooks Raley,
13:16and Hwaska Brazban away
13:17and get comfortable returns
13:19that they're satisfied with
13:20and trade Peralta,
13:22does David Stern
13:23say to himself,
13:24why don't I hold on
13:25to the one guy
13:25that actually seems like
13:26he knows what he's doing here?
13:27You know,
13:28like I'm not saying
13:29that that is what
13:30is going to happen.
13:31I'm just saying
13:32if the Mets don't get a return
13:33that they feel is worthy
13:34enough for Luke,
13:35there should be
13:36with the way that this market
13:37is shaping up.
13:37But if that does not happen,
13:38out of all those players,
13:40Luke feels like the one guy
13:41that David would be like,
13:42you know what?
13:43Okay, Luke,
13:44you know,
13:44we have you for next season
13:45as is.
13:46We have you another year
13:46of control.
13:47Let's run it back.
13:48Do you,
13:49I love that you brought up
13:50that point,
13:51Woody.
13:51I'm curious.
13:51Do you think it matters
13:53to that happening
13:55if they're able to trade
13:56the other guys first?
13:57Like,
13:58let's say they're able
13:58to move a Minter,
13:59they're able to move
14:00a Brooks Raley
14:01or Brazoban first
14:02and they're saying,
14:02okay,
14:02we got a decent return.
14:04We still know what Weaver
14:05might be able to get us.
14:06We both agree,
14:06possibly the best return
14:07out of anybody
14:08on this list.
14:09Right.
14:09But if they're able
14:10to trade those guys first,
14:12does that maybe,
14:12and they get what they think
14:13is pretty good
14:14or decent returns for that,
14:15do you think that makes them
14:16say,
14:16ah,
14:17you know what?
14:18Maybe we can hold on
14:19to Weaver for a little bit.
14:20We don't have to move him.
14:21Or if you're a Stearns,
14:23would you be proactive
14:24and maybe say,
14:25ah,
14:26we got to try to get
14:26the most that we can here?
14:28How would you play that
14:29if you were David Stearns?
14:30I'm curious.
14:32If I'm playing that,
14:33if I'm David Stearns,
14:33I'm still trying
14:34to maximize value.
14:35So it's hard to think
14:36right now on the time
14:38of stock in July 19th
14:39that Weaver won't be able
14:40to net you a return
14:41similar to like
14:42what Tyler Rodgers,
14:43you know,
14:43got between the Mets
14:44and the Giants last year.
14:45I think that's a prime example.
14:46The Mets gave up
14:47a lot of quality,
14:48not so much quality,
14:49but quantity of guys
14:50that could have
14:51longer leash there
14:52between Jose Budo
14:53having loveless success.
14:54Drew Gilbert's been a player
14:56for them all season long.
14:57He's had ups and downs,
14:58obviously,
14:58and the Mets also gave up
15:00a Blake Tidwell,
15:00who, yes,
15:01will probably profile
15:02best as a reliever,
15:03but that's a guy
15:04who has a lot
15:04of raw potential,
15:05a lot of velocity
15:06in the tank with his arm.
15:08You know,
15:08the Mets gave up
15:08some assets
15:09that you look at
15:10a Tyler Rodgers
15:11that you just had
15:11for a couple months
15:12and then he walks
15:13because he signs
15:13a big contract in Toronto.
15:15That's probably regret
15:16just in the sense of like
15:17we gave up
15:17a good amount there
15:19for little to nothing
15:21in true return
15:22at the end.
15:23So that's a comp
15:24I look at
15:24and if the Mets
15:25can get something
15:26of similar status
15:27or fashion,
15:27you do that.
15:28You get something
15:29greater,
15:29awesome.
15:30Now,
15:30if teams are only offering
15:32say a mid-level prospect
15:34for Luke Weaver,
15:35like let's,
15:35worst scenario,
15:36Luke Weaver
15:36just forgets how to pitch.
15:37He gets the yips
15:38from now until August,
15:39right?
15:39And he goes from having
15:4025 squirrels innings
15:41to giving up runs
15:42in like three of his
15:44last five outings,
15:45right?
15:45Let's just say
15:46it's not looking
15:47as good for him.
15:48Teams are like,
15:49all right,
15:49we're not going
15:49to bite as much.
15:50If you're Stearns,
15:51do you say to yourself,
15:52do I still just try
15:53to get whatever
15:53I can get for him?
15:54Or do you say,
15:55hey,
15:56he has value to this team.
15:57He enjoys this market.
15:59Let's run it back.
16:00I can see both sides.
16:01I don't know which one's
16:02going to be prioritized
16:03over the other per se.
16:04Right.
16:05Trust me.
16:05I wish,
16:06I wish I knew
16:07the way that David
16:07Stearns thought.
16:08Every time I feel
16:09like I do,
16:10it's for the wrong reasons.
16:11So we'll just have
16:11to wait and see
16:12how from now
16:13up until August
16:14he's going to go.
16:15So that's another
16:16good point too,
16:16right?
16:17Because how he pitches
16:17over the next couple
16:18of weeks could
16:19absolutely impact
16:20the market.
16:21He feels,
16:22I could be wrong
16:23on this,
16:23he feels like
16:24the kind of guy
16:25with the way
16:26the market is right
16:27now that could
16:27come down to,
16:28we're still talking
16:29about him on August 3rd
16:30when we do our
16:30live trade deadline show.
16:32We're still talking
16:32about the fact that,
16:34okay,
16:34it could be coming
16:35up to the deadline.
16:36We're like,
16:36will they move
16:37Luke Weaver or not?
16:38But that really depends
16:39on how desperate
16:40other teams are,
16:41what the market is
16:42for him,
16:43will there be
16:43a bidding war
16:44for him?
16:44It's interesting.
16:46Don't know how
16:46David Stearns thinks,
16:47but speaking of how
16:48David Stearns may
16:49or may not think,
16:51this kind of ties
16:52into what we're
16:52just talking about.
16:53Should David Stearns
16:55at this trade deadline
16:56be trying to get
16:58the biggest return
16:59or should he also
17:01be trying to
17:02keep the club
17:04competitive
17:04for 2027?
17:07Like,
17:07how do you think
17:08he should handle that?
17:10Because would you
17:11rather him,
17:12you talked about
17:12you like to see
17:13a maximized
17:14prospect value
17:14right here?
17:16Or do you want
17:17to say,
17:17okay,
17:18we still need to
17:18keep,
17:18if we keep
17:19around a Luke
17:19Weaver,
17:20we keep around
17:21some other veterans,
17:22that can help us
17:23bounce back
17:23quickly next season.
17:25What do you think
17:26the priority should be,
17:27Mr. Proactive
17:28Wardy?
17:29What do you think
17:30it should be?
17:31You know,
17:31because I always
17:32wonder about this.
17:34Can you have,
17:35really have two
17:36timelines?
17:36I don't think you
17:37can in any sport.
17:38You can't say,
17:39I'm trying to develop
17:40the future
17:40while trying to win
17:41now.
17:42The problem is
17:42the Mets do have
17:42the pressure of
17:43winning now,
17:44right?
17:45They failed at it
17:46this year,
17:47but,
17:48so I don't know.
17:49What do you think?
17:50Is it prioritize
17:51the biggest return
17:52here at the trade
17:52deadline,
17:53or keep the club
17:54competitive for 2027?
17:56It's got to be
17:58prioritizing the
17:58biggest return,
17:59because you can do
18:00that and still be
18:00competitive for next
18:01season.
18:02You know,
18:02look at who the
18:02Mets are selling.
18:03It's not like,
18:04they're all,
18:05Juan Soto,
18:05you're gone.
18:06No,
18:06McLean,
18:07you're out of
18:07here.
18:07Right,
18:08right,
18:09right.
18:10Yeah.
18:10Yeah.
18:10Like there's,
18:11there's a difference
18:11between a fire sale
18:13of guys that are
18:13rentals on short-term
18:14contracts that,
18:15you know,
18:16there was a strong,
18:17if not great
18:17likelihood,
18:18we're not going to
18:18be here next season
18:19as is right.
18:20All the Mets are
18:21doing is trying to
18:22get,
18:23you know,
18:24a heads up on this
18:25and be ahead of the
18:26curb,
18:26especially as one of
18:27the lone best looking
18:29sellers at this
18:29deadline,
18:30with so many teams
18:31willing to buy right
18:32now,
18:32just a couple weeks
18:32out that it would
18:34be foolish for them
18:34to not take advantage
18:36of that market.
18:36Listen,
18:37David Stearns is
18:37foolishly not taking
18:38advantage of a lot of
18:39markets for the Mets
18:40over the past couple
18:41of years.
18:42Some he has,
18:42it's worked a lot.
18:44It hasn't worked.
18:45Now's an opportunity
18:46for him to kind of
18:47not only change the
18:48narrative about himself
18:49as he's being viewed
18:50as one of the worst
18:50presidents in Mets
18:51history at the
18:52moment by going out,
18:54be proactive,
18:55maximize these returns
18:56because in a scenario
18:57that even if they
18:58traded like 10,
18:5910 players decks,
19:00yes,
19:00that's a lot of turmoil
19:01and yes,
19:02I'm not saying it's
19:02healthy for a clubhouse,
19:03but in light of me,
19:04what's so healthy
19:05about this clubhouse?
19:06Please,
19:06please,
19:06please let's,
19:07let's have a launch
19:08spiel as to how the
19:09Mets,
19:09all their clubhouse
19:10culture is so electric
19:11and that's what's
19:11carrying the weight
19:12for them,
19:12you know,
19:12each and every year.
19:13They still have,
19:14they still have
19:15disarray there.
19:15There's a lot of
19:16uncertainty because of
19:17Andy Green being an
19:18interim manager.
19:19They need to get
19:19their solidified voice
19:21in who will be their
19:21voice for at least
19:22the next number of
19:23years on paper.
19:24They have a lot,
19:24but they still need
19:25to figure out.
19:26So while they're in
19:27this continued
19:28transition phase,
19:29if you will,
19:29throughout the season,
19:30maximize those returns,
19:32trade rarely,
19:32trade mentor,
19:33trade Weaver more
19:34than likely,
19:35trade Brosvan,
19:36trade Yon,
19:36trade Yantas,
19:37trade Beatty,
19:38trade literally Peralta
19:40and Holmes if you get
19:41like such a crazy return
19:42that you would have to
19:43be like the maddest man
19:45imaginable to say now.
19:46Otherwise,
19:47you hold on to Clay
19:47because I think Clay
19:48should stay here.
19:50That's a lot of guys.
19:51Think about that.
19:52Think about the amount
19:53of prospects, Dex,
19:55that Stearns has traded
19:56just from last year's
19:57deadline.
19:58He traded like nine,
19:59at least nine prospects
20:00away.
20:01Which, to be clear,
20:02we both supported.
20:03We were both fine with that.
20:05Right.
20:05Yeah.
20:05I'm not sitting here
20:07and saying that I hated
20:07those moves at the time,
20:08but you reflect,
20:10you look back at the moves
20:11you made and you realize,
20:12oh, were those needle
20:13movers or not?
20:14And more often than not,
20:15they have not been
20:16for the Mets,
20:17unfortunately.
20:17So that's the risk
20:19when you're a buyer
20:19at the deadline.
20:20So it's time that the Mets
20:21actually take it a bit down
20:24on the whole risk
20:26outweighs the reward.
20:27You have something
20:28in certainty
20:29right in front of you.
20:30You have a whole laundry
20:32list of guys
20:32that can shop away.
20:33Go ahead and do it
20:34while you actually have
20:35the right time to do it.
20:36So I'm with you.
20:38What I don't want to hear
20:39from people is,
20:39you kind of alluded to this,
20:41don't give me anything
20:42about clubhouse chemistry
20:44in August and September
20:46when this team
20:46is not going anywhere.
20:48I don't want to hear that.
20:50The next time I want
20:51to hear chemistry
20:52is an offseason
20:53and what players
20:54you're trying to bring in
20:55or next year
20:56is spring training.
20:57I don't want to hear
20:57anything about chemistry
20:58right now.
20:59Now, I get it.
20:59The team,
21:00you trade off all those guys
21:01are going to say
21:02Wardy and Dex,
21:02it's going to look like
21:03a AAA team
21:04at Citi Field
21:05in August, September.
21:06Yeah, it is.
21:08And here's the thing.
21:09That's how it looked
21:10in 2023.
21:11It's what happens
21:12when you sell.
21:12Yeah, it's what happens
21:13when you sell.
21:14You can't have it all.
21:15That's not how this works, right?
21:18And so, it's do you want to,
21:20I'm going to bring up
21:21the word that we constantly
21:22keep saying on the show
21:23and you and I
21:24have both wanted to see.
21:26And to be fair,
21:27Steve Cohen has said this.
21:28Do you want
21:30sustainable success
21:31or not?
21:33This path
21:33that the Mets have been on
21:34right now
21:35as we look at it
21:36has not shown anything
21:37to work for sustainable success.
21:39Now, you might say to me,
21:39hey, Dex,
21:40hey, Wardy,
21:41how do I know
21:41that selling at the deadline
21:42is going to lead
21:44to sustainable success?
21:45I don't know.
21:46But you know
21:46what the definition
21:47of insanity is?
21:48Doing the same thing
21:49over and over
21:49and expecting
21:50a different result.
21:50We reference this
21:52way too often, Dex.
21:53That's the worst part.
21:54I feel like every other week
21:55we're talking about
21:56the levels of sanity
21:57versus insanity
21:58and being a Mets fan.
22:00It gets you cooped up
22:01in the insane asylum.
22:02I understand.
22:03I'm not surprised.
22:04Not surprised at all.
22:06We're just trying
22:07to stay sane, man.
22:09If that's your argument,
22:11not you, Wardy,
22:12but if that's somebody
22:12else's argument,
22:13I think that's a weak one
22:14and this is not the time
22:16to worry about this.
22:17I do think you've got
22:18to maximize
22:19and get the best return
22:20that you can.
22:20I do think you have
22:21to replenish the farm system.
22:22I think Wardy
22:23makes a great point.
22:25Again, supported the Mets
22:26for going for it
22:26at the deadline last year
22:28when we thought
22:28they had a really good team
22:29and should go all in
22:31and they did.
22:32Now, they didn't hit
22:33on enough needle movers
22:34but now you've got
22:36to try to replenish that
22:37so when you have
22:38the next good Mets team,
22:39hopefully in 2027,
22:40maybe beyond,
22:41who knows,
22:42you do have assets
22:43to then go and fill holes
22:45when you do need
22:45to go and do that.
22:47Right now,
22:48the Mets need to get good again
22:49before we start talking
22:50about chemistry
22:51and a clubhouse.
22:52Just get good again.
22:53We just need to see that.
22:54That's it.
22:55Right.
22:56Again, I understand
22:58easier said than done.
23:00You know,
23:00when it comes to
23:01getting good again.
23:02Yeah, I'm not saying
23:03that's easy.
23:03A lot of things should be,
23:05it seems like things
23:06should be easier
23:06and smoother than what
23:07they have been
23:08because of just how
23:09traumatic they managed
23:10to fail the way
23:10that they do.
23:11It's genuinely impressive.
23:13Even with all the stigmas
23:14that surround this team,
23:15I'm still a lot of times
23:16perplexed.
23:17I take a second
23:18and really lean back
23:19in my chair
23:20and just think of
23:20how we got here
23:21and I'm like,
23:22it's only the Mets.
23:24It's so cliche to say,
23:25but with every year,
23:27that just rings more
23:28and more true,
23:29unfortunately.
23:29So hopefully,
23:30the turning of the tide
23:31is here at some point
23:33after we sell off
23:34the deadline.
23:34But on to the next text.
23:37What do we got,
23:38my friend?
23:38Okay.
23:38Well, here's the thing.
23:40You mentioned how
23:42there could be
23:43a bunch of guys
23:43that could trade.
23:44I think you said
23:45like nine, ten guys,
23:46which is not crazy.
23:47Easy.
23:48Easy.
23:48Easy to comfortably.
23:49Yeah, this is like
23:50not out of the realm
23:51of possibility here.
23:53Which player
23:54would you refuse
23:55to trade
23:56even if the market
23:57loves him, right?
23:58So which player
23:59is not necessarily,
24:00I'm not saying
24:00this player is untouchable,
24:02but you would personally
24:03just, you want him
24:04around the team
24:04because you're like,
24:05hey, I like the fit,
24:06maybe the future projection,
24:07maybe the age,
24:08et cetera,
24:08whatever it may be.
24:09Who's that player for you?
24:11I have one.
24:12I'm curious to hear
24:12who yours would be.
24:16We're not talking
24:17about like our
24:18untouchables,
24:19if you will.
24:19We're talking guys
24:20that are kind of like...
24:20Those guys are out of it.
24:21So we're taking out Soto,
24:22we are taking out
24:23Carson Vance,
24:24we're taking AJ Ewing
24:24and Nolan McClain.
24:26Taking him out.
24:27And I'll put Lindor
24:28in that category.
24:29Let's throw Lindor
24:30in that category
24:30just because he's going
24:31to be an easy pick otherwise.
24:33So Francisco Alvarez.
24:34Oh, so we have the same pick.
24:36We have the same pick there.
24:37Yeah.
24:38It has to be Alvarez.
24:39He's 24.
24:40He's hitting nukes.
24:41He's not playing terrible.
24:43The defense I'm still
24:44not happy with,
24:45but there's too much there.
24:47I feel like even if the Mets
24:48maximized the return
24:49for him now,
24:50a return for him
24:51a year or two,
24:52two years from now
24:53could be two times
24:54if he just continues
24:56to click and put it
24:57all together.
24:57The uncertainty
25:00that outweighs
25:01I think the risk
25:02with someone like Alvarez
25:04or if things go
25:05absolutely terrible for him.
25:07I think there's a lot
25:07of still optimism
25:08with him and his future
25:09given his age.
25:11The amount of catchers
25:12that are at his age
25:12doing what he's doing
25:13are slim to none.
25:14He's literally been
25:15top five to top ten
25:16in baseball
25:16and every offensive metric
25:18as a catcher
25:18since arriving in the league
25:19for the most part.
25:20Yes, I agree.
25:21Defense needs work.
25:23But it's one of those things
25:24where as time continues
25:25to go on,
25:25if he can stay healthy,
25:27God willing,
25:27he'll get there.
25:28We've seen it.
25:28He was 21-22
25:30looking like one of the
25:31better defensive catchers
25:32in baseball.
25:33I know it's in there
25:34somewhere, Alvarez.
25:35He just needs to continue
25:36to find it.
25:37Yeah, and I'm believing
25:38that he's...
25:38Now, look,
25:38we could both be wrong.
25:39We could both be dead wrong
25:40on this and look like fools.
25:43Color me shocked.
25:43Sounds like day that ends
25:44on why.
25:45It's actually had something
25:45wrong about the New York Mets.
25:47You're kidding me.
25:48But listen,
25:49when you look at his age
25:52and what he's even
25:53to be able to accomplish,
25:54like you said,
25:55you know,
25:55being top five to ten
25:56in a lot of offensive categories
25:58as a catcher in baseball,
26:00I'm willing to still bet
26:01that he's not...
26:02I don't think he's peaked.
26:03I don't think he's peaked.
26:04I still think he has a ways to go.
26:06I think the thing with him
26:07is can he stay healthy
26:09and can he improve defensively?
26:11We've seen him
26:12be a good defensive catcher,
26:13be better than what he is right now,
26:14and I think he can get back to that.
26:16I'm with you, too.
26:17I'm willing to take that bet
26:18more than some other guys.
26:19Now, I was going to...
26:20I thought about trolling you
26:21for a second,
26:22Wardy,
26:23and maybe saying Mark Vientos.
26:24If you're about to say something
26:26in regards to my boy...
26:26I was going to say Mark Vientos.
26:28I was going to say Mark Vientos.
26:29Oh, I was going to even say your boy.
26:30No, I wasn't going to do that.
26:32Today is really the first episode.
26:33I haven't even called anybody your boy.
26:35I was going to leave that alone.
26:36I was just going to be kind of nice.
26:38If you're going to say something
26:40like that one more time,
26:41I'm going to have to bolt to the mound
26:43like I'm Wilson Contreras, okay?
26:44Like I'm not having this anymore.
26:48Listen, there are plenty of people
26:49around the New York Post family
26:51that I work with
26:52that I call other people their boy
26:53that they don't want to be called their boy.
26:55So people know that.
26:56You're not alone.
26:57It's not me picking on Wardy.
26:59But I agree with you on this.
27:00We don't have to belabor this too long.
27:02If anybody's out there saying Mark Vientos,
27:03who I was going to jokingly say,
27:05then that would be absolutely ridiculous.
27:07But I do think Alvarez is a fair name
27:09because I'm sure there are some
27:10in the Mets fan base
27:12and even media that would say,
27:13hey, trade him now.
27:14You can still get something good for him.
27:16I just think he's a guy
27:17that you hold on to just because of age.
27:19I still think he fits here.
27:20I still think he has a respect
27:21of the pitching staff.
27:22I think that matters too.
27:24So for me, I'm still sticking with
27:28Francisco Alvarez here.
27:29I'm doing that.
27:31Good.
27:32No, I'm happy to hear that.
27:34I think Alvy,
27:35until we kind of see enough writing on the wall
27:37that he's not going to be our guy anymore,
27:39I don't think that's something that...
27:41I feel like if the Mets cut Alvarez...
27:42You know how I feel with Alvarez?
27:44I feel like if the Mets went down the route
27:45of kind of giving up on Alvarez...
27:47I know what you're going to say.
27:48You think Travis Starno was bad?
27:52You think that was bad
27:53with the Atlanta Braves?
27:54Imagine if Alvarez found himself
27:56back in the N, at least in a couple years
27:57on the Braves or on the Phillies,
27:59and he's just...
28:00Because he has a very charismatic personality too.
28:03You don't think he would hold a grudge.
28:05You don't think he would be the type
28:06for every single time he played the Mets,
28:08he would go out there
28:09and be like a man possessed.
28:11Like he would be the one where I'm like,
28:12don't even pitch to him.
28:13Like don't even bother.
28:15This would be the most Mets thing ever
28:17if that happened.
28:18It just feels right on brand.
28:20All right, let's close on this
28:22because I think a lot of times
28:23we talk about trade stuff
28:26from the perspective of the team
28:29that we cover, right?
28:30In the Mets.
28:31But here's the thing.
28:32If you're another GM,
28:34which Mets player are you calling about first, Wardy?
28:37Like who's the player you're calling about first, right?
28:40Because we are in seller mode,
28:42so we're thinking like the seller
28:43that the Mets are here.
28:45But if you are a buyer,
28:46so if you're the Dodgers,
28:47the Phillies, the Cubs, the Yankees,
28:49we even mentioned the Brewers,
28:51who are you targeting first
28:53off of this Mets roster?
28:54Just like, hey,
28:55I got to get this guy on my team.
28:56Who's that guy for you
28:57that you think teams
28:58are going to be calling about first?
29:00Oh, who do I think
29:01is going to get called about most?
29:02Yeah.
29:03Or calling first.
29:04If this other team picks up the phone,
29:06they're like, hey, we're interested in X guy.
29:09That's the first name they're asking about.
29:10That's reasonable.
29:12Also, not on the untouchable list.
29:13Just want to be clear.
29:14A guy who's not on an untouchable list
29:16that the other team's calling and saying,
29:18hey, we need to talk about this guy.
29:20This is the first guy
29:21we're going to talk about
29:22and try to at least put together
29:23the framework of a deal.
29:25Who's that guy for you?
29:27I'm torn between either it being Freddie
29:29or someone like Brooks Raley.
29:30You know, it's obviously going to be guys
29:31in the pitching department,
29:32but really I'm kind of stuck on
29:35because we did hear rumblings.
29:36Shout out to my good friend, Pat Ragazzo,
29:38who does a very good job
29:39with all of his MLB and Mets.
29:41Shout out to Pat.
29:41And Pat, just over not a long ago
29:43when talking about how the Mets
29:45were actually pushing hard for the,
29:47I believe the 34th or 35th pick
29:49and the draft by the Pirates,
29:51their, you know, their commentation pick,
29:53the Mets were pushing hard for that.
29:55And in their supposed deal for him,
29:57Brooks Raley's name was involved.
29:59So I'm just curious, you know,
30:00if you have a team like the Pirates
30:01that are really pushing for relief help,
30:03a lot of teams are looking for a guy
30:04like Brooks Raley,
30:05as they are with AJ Minter,
30:06Luke Weber, et cetera.
30:07So I think it's one of those relievers
30:09because the Mets just have
30:10a smorgasbord of options.
30:12It's not like that they just have one
30:13and it's like, oh,
30:14we're going to have this insane bidding war
30:16where everyone needs
30:17the top reliever in the market.
30:18No, the Mets have like
30:18at least four guys.
30:20Realistically, that can be impactful
30:21for contending teams
30:22that teams are chomping at the bit for.
30:23So I would probably lean Raley,
30:26just someone in lever front.
30:27What about you?
30:28Yeah, so I was,
30:29I know some people will think like,
30:30well, hey, Dex and Wardy,
30:31you just talked about Luke Weaver
30:33and we think he could net
30:34possibly the biggest return here
30:36with the trade deadline.
30:36But the way I think about it
30:37is when a buyer is calling,
30:40they're looking to say,
30:41hey, how can we upgrade
30:43but maybe get someone
30:44that might not cost us as much
30:45as a Luke Weaver?
30:47So I'm thinking the first call,
30:48I like that you said Brooks Raley.
30:49I was going to go AJ Minter here
30:50because you've got some upside there
30:52with his arm as well too.
30:54He probably won't cost as much.
30:56I think teams that are looking
30:57to improve their bullpen
30:58and saying, hey,
30:59can I get one guy
30:59that's a low cost arm?
31:01If they're a guy I could then maybe
31:03have to give up
31:04a high level prospect for.
31:05They want to try to stack
31:06these arms in their bullpen
31:07sort of like what the Mets
31:08tried to do last year, right?
31:10You get a couple of guys
31:11at a low cost,
31:11maybe you go get a guy
31:13that's high cost,
31:14but they're going to try to start,
31:15I don't want to call it
31:15bargain basement shopping,
31:17but you know what I mean.
31:17They're going to try
31:18to do that first
31:19and go AJ Minter
31:20or Brooks Raley,
31:21good arms,
31:22they're not going to cost you
31:23as much as Luke Weaver.
31:24A lot of that also has to do
31:25with the contract
31:26and the control.
31:27So I think those are the guys
31:28you're going to,
31:29I'm with you.
31:29I like you said Raley,
31:30I'm going to go Minter.
31:32I think that's a guy teams
31:35as you have these conversations
31:36and on the phone,
31:37Davis turns on the phone
31:38and they're also going to say,
31:38hey, what's the price
31:40for Luke Weaver?
31:41Well, you know,
31:42if you're looking for a starter,
31:43what's the price
31:43for a Freddy Peralta?
31:45They're going to kick the tires
31:46around on that
31:47and ask about that,
31:48but I think they're going
31:48to ask for some of it.
31:49Hwaska Brazavan,
31:50you could throw him
31:50in that group too.
31:51I think those names
31:53are going to come up first
31:54because I think,
31:55as all teams know,
31:56the Mets are going to be
31:56looking to deal those guys
31:57and they want to replenish
31:58their farm system
31:59and you can get them
32:00for cheap,
32:02relatively cheap
32:02is what I would say.
32:04I mean,
32:05as is the case
32:05with everything
32:06when talking about this team,
32:07but how frustrating
32:08is it to hear that
32:08you talk about the Mets
32:10last year trying to build
32:11their bullpen a certain way?
32:12Now they actually
32:13have it built this year
32:14and it just doesn't matter.
32:16It really doesn't matter.
32:16The fact that their worst reliever
32:17in their bullpen is Perez,
32:21and he's kind of clearly
32:22their worst reliever.
32:23Devin Williams
32:23has been inconsistent,
32:24but the bullpen's been nailed, man.
32:27It really does frustrate me.
32:28We're going on multiple months
32:30of them kind of being
32:31exactly what we need them to be.
32:33Not perfect,
32:33but definitely one of the better
32:35bullpens in baseball,
32:36and they're going to have
32:37nothing to show for it.
32:38The one thing that was
32:38built beautifully,
32:39Stearns,
32:41how fitting,
32:42indirect hand with how
32:43he tore down this team
32:44this fast off,
32:45so he's going to tear it down again.
32:46It's like the one good thing
32:47we have.
32:48Yeah, let's get it out of here.
32:50The one time the Mets
32:50had to get a bullpen
32:51with guys that the fan base
32:52could trust,
32:53as Rewardy said,
32:54it didn't matter
32:56one bit at all.
32:58All right, we'll see.
32:59Listen,
33:01it's trade season.
33:02It's lying season.
33:03Whatever you want to call it,
33:04we have a lot to talk about
33:05with trades,
33:06and as Rewardy mentioned earlier,
33:07there's going to be
33:08a lot more information
33:09and misinformation, folks,
33:10that's going to be coming out.
33:11We're going to try to keep you
33:12on top of everything
33:12here at Straight Outta Flushing.
33:15Rewardy,
33:16any final thoughts
33:17as we get deeper
33:18into trade season?
33:20More than anything,
33:21I'm just waiting
33:22for the dominoes
33:23to start to fall.
33:24I'm waiting for that crack
33:25to happen
33:26and the floodgates
33:27are open,
33:28because once they do get open,
33:29it'll be busy,
33:30and I think a lot of it
33:31just is not really
33:31going to happen
33:32until basically
33:33the day of the deadline
33:34or the 24-40 hour span
33:36in the buildup,
33:37which is going to be
33:37exciting for us
33:38as we have
33:39a full, long day
33:41of MLB trade deadline
33:42coverage here
33:43on The Post
33:43to share with each
33:44and every one of you,
33:45so I'm looking forward to it.
33:45Yeah, it's going to be
33:46a lot of fun.
33:47Wardy and I
33:47will be joined
33:49by Ryan Sampson
33:51from Pinstripe Post
33:51here at The Post.
33:52We'll be doing
33:52a live trade deadline show.
33:53That's going to be
33:54a lot of fun.
33:56We'll be all together
33:56in the studio doing that.
33:57That's going to be
33:57a fun one.
33:58That's going to do it
33:59for this edition
34:00of Straight Outta Flushing.
34:01That is a great
34:02Tyler Ward,
34:02a.k.a. Wardy,
34:03and see,
34:03I went through
34:04this whole episode
34:04and I didn't even say
34:05that anybody was his boy.
34:07That is a success
34:08in itself.
34:09I know Wardy
34:09is happy about that.
34:10I'm Dexter Henry.
34:11Dexter, my boy.
34:12There we go, Dexter.
34:13Wait, who's your boy?
34:14You're my boy.
34:15You know what?
34:15That's good.
34:16See, I don't have to feel
34:17good about that.
34:18I appreciate it.
34:19You're my boy, too.
34:19That's good.
34:20We got no problem
34:21with that.
34:22There we go.
34:22Boys, Dexter, and Wardy.
34:24You can't go wrong
34:24with that there.
34:25We're going to catch
34:26all of you.
34:27The both of us
34:27will catch all of you
34:28next time
34:29on another edition
34:30of Straight Outta Flushing.
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