As I said, there may be other options perhaps even better options. But you're not likely to get Stanton for Noah alone. It's doubtful Cargo gets traded for that alone. So who are you getting? It's fine and well to say they need an OF. Forgetting for a moment your issues with WAR, just use it as a way of ranking players. How man 3+ WAR type talents are there that are A) Available B) cost similar prospects and C) fit their age/price range?
Last year there were 65 players with 3+ WAR which is the level of player Castro was in 2011-2012. Again, even if you don't care for a statistic it's fair to suggest there's only around 65 players of a similar level or better. Of those there were 23 with 5+ WAR who would likely take well more than Noah alone to get. That leaves you with around 40 players. Of those only these players were on noncompetitive teams last year which is to say teams that were fringe playoffs or better.
Gerardo Parra(dbacks)
Jose Bautista(jays)
Edwin Encarnacion(jays)
Chris Denorfia(padres)
Chase Utley(phillies)
Jonathan Lucroy(brewers)
Chase Headley(padres)
Kyle Seager(mariners)
Jean Segura(Brewers)
Alexei Ramirez(white sox)
Daniel Murphy(mets)
There's perhaps others who are available but my point here is that it's not like there's 50 guys to choose from. There's a limited amount of players that fit their needs and are actually available. It's not some half baked solution as you make it out to be. If Castro is someone the front office is willing to part with he'd be one of the very few young all-star level talents available. Also your suggestion that the mets have the upper hand is pure speculation. If the cubs put Castro on the market there's 20 teams he'd be an upgrade for at SS. And as I suggested earlier how many realistic options are there if you're a team that wants to upgrade? Castro makes sense for the mets but any other of these teams who are in the hunt for the playoffs next year would also make sense. It's not like there is 0 market for a 24 year old former all star SS. As such the cubs have leverage. On the contrary, the Dbacks last year wanted a SS who wasn't as good as Castro and gave up Bauer for him who baseball america had as the #14 prospect.
What amazes me is your stance on Noah given your past comments. I mean for crying out loud he's not even pitched in the majors and only has 50 innings at AA. Sure he's a talented young pitcher but you're acting as though he's Shelby Miller or Wacha who are talented young pitcher proven in the majors. Tyler Skaggs(#12 prospect before last year and unproven in the majors) and Adam Eaton were traded for Trumbo(his best year last year he was 2.5 WAR). Whether or not you like WAR to sit here and say Trumbo is more valuable than Castro is asinine. SS is a much more valuable position. Castro's production prior to this year was better. Castro's younger. Castro's locked up long term.
Like I said before, I'm not guaranteeing it happens. But you're sitting here saying there's better options and giving 0 examples. You say they need an OF then who are they going to get for Noah alone who's on a similar talent level to Castro, has a similar age and is locked up long term cheap? The only reason the cubs would even entertain trading someone like Castro is because they have an even better talent nearing the majors at the same position. Of the top 30 prospects I'm fairly certain Baez is the only positional prospect legitimately "blocked" by someone at the major league level.
Oh and I don't know if Theo would but I'd deal Almora in a heartbeat for Noah rather than trading Castro because castro has far more value.
Syndergaard won't get Stanton, you're correct.
I'm not sure the Brewers are ready to sell just yet, they've made a few moves to be competitive in 2014, and with the Reds likely regression and unknowns in Pittsburgh, they have an outside chance for the 4-5 WC seed. And I also think they'll shop Braun before Segura and Lucroy, though if they tank/are out of it I expect a huge fire sale of Aramis, Braun, Yovanni, and Lucroy. Maybe Gomez if someone offers an arm and a leg.
I hate hyping prospects, period. But in your trade scenario, I put myself in the Mets' shoes, because A) i hate trade scenarios that wont happen and B) everybody forgets it takes 2 teams to trade, so saying 'it works for my team' is easy, but does it work for the OTHER team--people forget that, so I like to be devil's advocate.
Syndergaard is the 11th ranked prospect now, 21, and probably going to start in AAA. He's shown talent with plus pitches being his fast which normally sits at 98 mph and curve. He still has to work on his change and develop a 4th pitch, some scouts suggest a cutter. He looks like Josh Johnson and draws comparisons. Both are tall, 3 pitch pitchers with ridiculous fast balls, powering 12-6 and a change.
I'm not devaluing Castro. I'm not devaluing his contract or 1 anomaly of a year. I like Castro.
I'm saying from the Mets standpoint, an OF would be more imperative in a return for a blue chip pitching prospect who is very close to being Major League ready. Put yourself in the mets' shoes. Short term you don't need a SS. Long term if Tejada and Ceccini don't work out then yes. But theres a plan there.
OF wise there are too many questions. You got a 32 year old grandy locked in for 4 years and a lot of money. There's chris young. A bust they're trying to catch lightning in a bottle with. Then there's 2 other bums who cant cut it. The one promising OF prospect wont be hitting .326 with 20 home runs after his suspension.
There are nothing but question marks short and long term with the Mets' OF situation. If I'm the Mets, Castro would be nice, but he's not as dire as the need of OF help. Its that simple.
I'd dish Almora or Soler for Syndergaard too. It would make much more sense to the Mets to entertain THAT instead of a Castro package that doesn't solve their OF situation, unless a half baked prospect in the OF like a Ruby Silva is added, even then no help.
