The New York Mets, like most contending teams, should be major players in the relief pitching market this summer.
Though the Mets' bullpen has generally been very good this season, they could undoubtedly use one more high-leverage arm. A lefty would be the ideal fit, but if the Boston Red Sox's Aroldis Chapman won't be available, they may just go after the other biggest names.
Not many people would have identified Colorado Rockies righty Jake Bird as a big name on the bullpen market before the season, but the 29-year-old has been sensational. He's got a 2.16 ERA and 54 strikeouts in 41 2/3 innings.
The Rockies aren't known for pulling the trigger on blockbuster deals, but they'd be fools not to grab a haul for Bird while they can. Just how big would that haul need to be on the Mets' end to make the deal come to fruition?
On Just Baseball's Kevin Henry and Ryan Finkelstein came up with a projection, and it's a doozy: infielder Ronny Mauricio, outfielder Drew Gilbert, and right-handed pitcher Jack Wenninger.
"Bird would immediately stabilize their middle innings and could slot in as a seventh- or eighth-inning option, depending on the opponent and game situation," Henry wrote.
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"With the Mets’ front office under pressure to produce a deep postseason run, they may be willing to part with some significant prospect capital to land the kind of bullpen arm that gives them a late-inning advantage."
There's no doubt that this trade would be uncomfortable for the Mets' front office, because either Mauricio, Gilbert, or both could turn into everyday position players in the big leagues. But we've seen exorbitant price tags for even rental relievers at recent trade deadlines.
Bird is far from a rental. He'll be under team control for the next 3 1/2 years. The only question is whether he'll do so in a Rockies uniform, a Mets uniform, or another uniform entirely.
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