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The Mets are clearly looking to make trades ahead of the deadline. We've known this for several weeks, but it's becoming more concrete now.
Since David Stearns doesn't necessarily plan to wait until August 3 to trade players, it's clear that the Queens-based club will be one to watch in the coming days.
One of the trade rumors that will generate the most buzz is the one involving Francisco Lindor. Could his relationship with Juan Soto prompt rival teams to call the Mets to see if he can be pried away from New York?
Teams will be calling (the Blue Jays—who are looking to make moves at the deadline, have money to spend, and have executives who are from Cleveland—will be among them), that's for sure. But right now, a trade is unlikely.
Should the Blue Jays be in on Francisco Lindor?
@JeffPassan joins @SNJeffBlair and Kevin Barker to assess the Mets shortstop's potential fit in Toronto. pic.twitter.com/2hyX0bKEVY— Sportsnet 590 The FAN (@FAN590) July 17, 2026
My sense is that the Mets will focus more on trying to trade Bo Bichette than Francisco Lindor this summer. After all, Lindor can wait.
But Bichette?
The former Blue Jays player's situation is unique, as you know. After all, his exit clauses complicate matters.
That's why the chances of seeing him leave are slim right now.
He's making an average of $42 million per season from 2026 to 2028, but he can opt out of his contract at the end of the 2026 or 2027 season. In short, he can do it whenever he wants.
Small-market teams can't sign him, then. And that's true even if he has only $1 million left to earn by the end of the season.
One thing to keep in mind regarding Bichette: While he has complicated $42M player options for each of the next two seasons, he was already paid—thanks mostly to a $40M signing bonus paid in the spring—more than $41M of this year's $42M salary
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) July 17, 2026
First, he'll receive $5M if he becomes a free agent this winter. But on top of that, if he gets injured and doesn't fulfill his contract as planned, he'll end up costing (too) much.
Complicated, you say?
So even though he'll earn almost nothing this season, I don't see that as an “advantage” for any team looking to sign him, given the risk in the coming years.
Especially since the Mets don't want to absorb a crazy amount of salary like they did in 2023 for Justin Verlander and Max Scherzer…
Update: The Mets have been telling teams that, unlike the '23 trade deadline—when they took on over $85 million to move the Scherzer and Verlander contracts for better prospects—they have no desire to pay down contracts to that extreme at this year's trade deadline. https://t.co/FiVlbcAued
— Jim Duquette (@JimDuquetteGM) July 17, 2026
It's worth noting that no one will be shedding any tears for the Mets if they can't trade him. No one forced Steve Cohen to sign that contract to bring a star to town.
His willingness to spend is important for baseball, in my view, and it's great if he does it. But he'll have to learn to do it the right way.
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