These Mets Are Most Likely To Be Moved By Trade Deadline

The New York Mets enjoyed a nice 4-1 win over the Philadelphia Phillies on Thursday to kick off the second half of the 2026 season, but that’s not going to be enough to stop the fire sale that looms with the trade deadline just 17 days away.

The Mets are 41-57 and have already committed to selling at the deadline, letting teams know which players are untouchable: left fielder Juan Soto, right fielder Carson Benge, center fielder A.J. Ewing, right-hander Nolan McLean and righty Christian Scott. Notably, shortstop Francisco Lindor was left off this list, but Ken Rosenthal stated he is unlikely to be traded.

Scott was incredible last night, tossing 5.2 scoreless innings and allowing three hits and striking out seven, demonstrating why the Mets think so highly of him. The other untouchables are no-brainers – Soto and the best crop of young Major Leaguers New York has going for them.

That leaves a long list of impending free agents and players close to free agency that the Mets are surely fielding calls on and preparing to ship out. ESPN’s Jorge Castillo named RHP Freddy Peralta, RHP Clay Holmes, left-hander A.J. Minter, LHP Brooks Raley, outfielder Tyrone Taylor, catcher Francisco Alvarez, C Luis Torrens, infielder Bo Bichette and RHP Luke Weaver as players to watch.

Between Alvarez and Torrens, it’s more likely that Torrens goes to a team like the New York Yankees if they don’t land one of Colorado Rockies C Hunter Goodman or Minnesota Twins C Ryan Jeffers. Alvarez is younger and has a lot more pop in his bat.

Castillo does think a Bichette trade is more unlikely because of his contract situation as he has a $42 million player option for 2027 and a no-trade clause, while Weaver is someone who has another year of control and the Mets believe can help them next year, but could bring in a haul should New York find the right partner.

Outside of the bullpen arms, Holmes has the most trade value with Peralta having a down year. Castillo predicts that Holmes will decline his $12 million player option in the offseason, making the waters murky for New York on whether to deal him now, make him a qualifying offer to get something back in the form of a draft pick or try to extend him.

However, Holmes still working on coming back from his injury could complicate things.

“Complicating the situation is that Holmes might not return from his broken fibula until after the trade deadline, but that shouldn't dampen interest,” Castillo wrote Friday. “Holmes, 33, had a 2.39 ERA in nine starts before taking a comebacker off his right leg May 15.”

Castillo mentioned that the Toronto Blue Jays traded for RHP Shane Bieber while he was on a rehab assignment after Tommy John surgery at last year’s deadline, and the fear associated with elbow surgery and leg surgery is vastly different.

Peralta and several bullpen pieces seem like locks to be moved in the next couple of weeks, but watch Holmes as a possible big-ticket acquisition for a contending team.