Over the years, the Mets have developed something of a notorious pattern. They dangled their top prospects in high-stakes trades for short-term reinforcements. Remember Scott Kazmir, dealt in 2004 in a controversial win-now move? Or Pete Crow-Armstrong, shipped off in 2021 for a midseason push that ultimately fell flat? Time and again, the franchise has mortgaged the future in hopes of an immediate payoff, only to watch those once-promising talents thrive elsewhere.
Now, as the 2025 season hits its critical midpoint, the Mets once again find themselves in familiar territory. Trailing behind the red-hot Phillies in the NL East, battling inconsistency, and armed with one of the most intriguing prospect pools in baseball. But with the trade deadline looming and pressure mounting, the question returns. Will the Mets stick to their rebuilding blueprint or fall into old habits and cash in their chips for another all-in swing?
Well, the tide might get turned this time. At least MLB insider Jon Heyman thinks so. “The Mets are expected to have these prospects as untouchables ahead of the MLB trade deadline. Nolan McLean, Jonah Tong, Jett Williams, Brandon Sproat.” SleeperMets quoted Heyman.
REPORT:
The Mets are expected to have these prospects as “untouchables” ahead of the MLB trade deadline, per @JonHeyman
– Nolan McLean
– Jonah Tong
– Jett Williams
– Brandon Sproat pic.twitter.com/R0hprRiRU6
— SleeperMets (@SleeperMets) July 18, 2025
So, what’s special about them?
Well, starting with Brandon Sproat. He had a rough go this season, posting a 4-5 record with a 5.43 ERA in 16 starts for Triple-A Syracuse. But while his numbers have clearly taken a hit, he’s still trying to figure things out. That said, there’s a bit of hope. Sproat just turned in his best outing of the year, tossing six scoreless innings and giving up only two hits in a win against Triple-A Rochester.
As for Jett Williams, he’s quickly becoming one of the Mets’ most exciting prospects. At only 21 years old, his athleticism makes him a threat at shortstop or in the outfield. Moreover, he’s backing it up at the plate, hitting .280 with a .394 OBP until now. Hence, given his upside, the Mets really need to resist any temptation to include him in a trade.
Then there’s Nolan McLean, who started out as a potential power reliever but is making waves as a starter. For Triple-A Syracuse, he stands with 5-5 with a 2.55 ERA in 14 appearances. Hence, with all the injuries the Mets have dealt with in the rotation, McLean could be a real asset. He’s earning his shot, and if he keeps trending in this direction, he might just develop into one of their top trade chips.
The last on the list, Jonah Tong. He has gone from flying under the radar to arguably the Mets’ top prospect. And guess what, it’s easy to see why. He’s made 15 starts this season, all with Double-A Binghamton, and has put together an eye-popping 1.83 ERA over 78.2 innings. So, simply put, his stuff is electric.
Thus, there’s real potential with the Mets regarding their prospects. And it could pay off big over the next few seasons, considering the Mets are retaining them.
External help is inevitable for the Mets
While it is projected that the Mets would not trade their top prospects, that doesn’t mean that no external help is needed. Considering the Mets’ current situation regarding the bullpen and starting rotation, new names should come by the trade deadline.
“Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns doesn’t, as a general rule, spend big on pitching. In this case, though, an investment in Gallen makes too much sense for the Mets not to consider,” MLB insider Jeff Passan remarked about the Mets pursuing D-Backs’ Zac Gallen.
For the unversed, Gallen has been one of the best pitchers in the league over the past few years. He has earned All-Star honors and has been in the Cy Young conversation multiple times. For instance, between 2020 to 2024, he posted a solid 3.34 ERA over 128 starts. Moreover, according to Spotrac, he’s projected to land a six-year deal worth around $116 million. So yeah, that’s a big investment for the Mets in the middle of the season.
While the Mets traditionally do not spend big on pitchers, their current situation might turn them towards Gallen. It is also rumored that a trade exchange with the Mets’ Zach Thornton and Jesus Baez might land Gallen in Queens.
Currently, the Mets have an ERA of 4.08 in their last 10 games, and that is high compared to their 3.56 ERA this season. This shows the urgent need to rejuvenate the rotation without putting a scratch on their top talents. For a cash-rich franchise like the Mets, it is possible.
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