00:07The Mets spent the trade deadline saying goodbye to veterans and betting on what could come next.
00:12Clay Holmes and Tyrone Taylor went to the Chicago Cubs.
00:15Luke Weaver went to Pittsburgh.
00:17And in return, New York acquired the two highest-ranked prospects from his deadline haul.
00:21Jefferson Rojas and Stammy Stafura, two 21-year-old infielders with two very different profiles
00:27and two players who could give Mets fans a reason to follow the farm system closely.
00:33Rojas became the Mets' top-ranked prospect in MLB's pipeline post-deadline rankings,
00:37while Stafura entered at No. 10.
00:41Let's start with the headliner.
00:42The Mets acquired Jefferson Rojas from Chicago for Holmes and Taylor.
00:46Rojas was the Cubs' No. 2 prospect at the time of the trade and a consensus top 100 talent.
00:52And while there may not be one loud elite tool that defines his game,
00:56there also aren't many obvious weaknesses.
01:00The foundation is his bat.
01:01Rojas has a short, direct swing, advanced bat-to-ball skills,
01:05and a mature approach for a player who has consistently been younger than the competition at each minor league level.
01:11MLB Pipeline grades his hit tool at 55,
01:13with a solid arm and the potential for 15-20 home run power as he continues to add strength.
01:20His long-term position is still being determined.
01:22He has played shortstop, second base, and third base,
01:26with enough arm strength and infield instincts to offer the Mets multiple options.
01:30The most realistic sealant may not be a 40-home run superstar.
01:34It could be something just as valuable.
01:36An everyday infielder who hits, runs the base as well,
01:40plays multiple positions, and doesn't need to be hidden anywhere.
01:44Sammy Stafura's story is different.
01:47The Mets sent Weaver to Pittsburgh to acquire the Hudson Valley native and lifelong Mets fan.
01:51Stafura was the 43rd overall pick in the 2023 draft,
01:55and in 2026, his offensive game took off.
01:58The speed and defense were already part of his identity.
02:01MLB Pipeline gives Stafura a 65-run grade,
02:04along with above-average projections for his arm and defense.
02:08He has stolen at least 30 bases in each of his first two full professional seasons.
02:13Scouts believe his range, actions, and instincts give him a legitimate opportunity to remain a shortstop.
02:19The new development is the power.
02:21Stafura hit 14 home runs during the final month before the trade.
02:25In talking to the media following the deadline,
02:27David Stearns pointed to improvements in his bat speed and exit velocity,
02:31signs that the breakout may be connected to a real change in his offensive profile.
02:36But there is still work to do.
02:38Stafura can chase breaking pitches, miss elevated velocity,
02:41and become too rigid when he tries to create power.
02:44His future may depend on whether he can maintain this new impact
02:48without sacrificing the play discipline and athleticism that raise his floor.
02:54Prospects are promises, not certainties.
02:57Rojas still has to prove his bat can translate to AAA,
03:01and eventually the majors.
03:02Stafura has to show that his power surge can last as he faces more advanced pitching.
03:07But the Mets didn't just use the deadline to add names to a ranking.
03:11They added two different types of upside.
03:13Rojas brings the advanced bat, versatility, and a relatively high floor.
03:18Stafura brings speed, shortstop defense,
03:20and the possibility of a much higher offensive ceiling than his earlier numbers suggested.
03:26One could become part of the next contending Mets roster.
03:29One could become valuable trade capital.
03:31And if both continue developing,
03:34the deadline may eventually be remembered for more than the players the Mets traded away.
03:38It may be remembered for the two young infielders they brought home.
03:50One could come as much
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