Just Mets

As the July 31 trade deadline inches closer, the Mets have begun to align the resources they’d be willing to move to upgrade the offense this month.

With their offense languishing in multiple areas, the front office is not limiting themselves to upgrading at a single position, assistant GM John Ricco told Mike Vorkunov of the Star Ledger.

But, it remains to be seen if they consider making multiple moves to fill their holes. Sandy Alderson did say a few weeks ago the club would not be making more than one move this summer, if they make one at all.

Speaking specifically about upgrading the outfield, Ricco said they’re not going to let their current investments stop them from considering an upgrade.

“I think we’re committed to trying to make the team better,” Ricco told Vorkunov. “I think there’s a scenario where you can fit another bat in there. There is no obvious spot. That’s one of the trickiest things here. It’s not like there’s a gaping hole. People say shortstop but we do obviously want to be better offensively. We’re not ruling outfield by any stretch.”

Right now, the Mets view former first round picks Brandon Nimmo and Gavin Cecchini as possible trade chips in exchange for offense, as well as pitching prospect Michael Fulmer, all of whom are at Double-A Binghamton right now, according to Mike Puma of the New York Post.

I’ve heard the Mets have dangled Fulmer’s and Nimmo’s name around this summer as primary trade chips, although it’s not yet clear if they’d be willing to move both right now. Presumably, in a deal involving Justin Upton as an example, making that happen would require at least both of them to be in the deal.

Right now, Fulmer is their best pitching prospect in the minors and he’s had an outstanding season with the B-Mets. He should be an attractive asset for a team looking towards next year, although Fulmer could still be about a year away given where he is now and the experience he missed due to injury.

The Mets would need to be careful about moving Nimmo and Cecchini in a deal, although if the right circumstance prevents itself, they may be forced to do so. But they represent two consecutive top draft choices, and both appear to be on their way to the big leagues within the next year or two.

Trading both of them for someone like Upton obviously fills a short-term need, and is unquestionably a win-now move. But if he walks at the end of the year, the Mets might have a whole lot of nothing in the end, especially since he can’t be made a qualifying offer after being traded mid-season.

What’s worse, if such a move doesn’t get the club into the playoffs this year, that pill becomes even more difficult to swallow.