Mets should swing-for-the-fences, get Steven Kwan

Plus, the Mets win big in San Francisco thanks to clutch hitting and defense, while they also acquire a much-needed lefty reliever...

Check out The Just Mets Trade Deadline Guide (paid subscribers only) — a breakdown of over 50 potential trade targets the Mets could pursue by July 31st.

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Sergio Estrada - IMAGN IMAGES

What’s up with the Mets? ⚾️

• The Mets opened their west coast trip in style with a big-time 8-1 win over the Giants on Friday night (box)

• RHP Clay Holmes overcame some early struggles to allow just one earned run on six hits and one walk with two strikeouts over five innings

• The bullpen combined for four innings of scoreless relief, with RHP Rico Garcia firing two innings of no-hit ball with no walks and three strikeouts

• SS Francisco Lindor went 3-for-5 with a double, a home run, three runs scored, one RBI, and a stolen base

• LF Brandon Nimmo finished 2-for-5 with two RBIs, a stolen base, and a run scored - his two-run single in the fourth inning helped to put the game away

• New York has now won five straight and remains 0.5 games ahead of the Phillies at the top of the NL East. They’re 12-7 in July, 14-6 vs the NL West, 14-0 when scoring eight or more runs, and 23-28 on the road this season

• The Mets acquired LHP Gregory Soto from the Orioles in exchange for RHP Wellington Aracena and RHP Cam Foster (story)

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Roster Moves 📰

• LHP José Castillo selected to the Major League roster

• RHP Alex Carrillo was optioned to Triple-A Syracuse on Thursday

• RHP Max Kranick transferred to the 60-Day Injured List

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Rumor Mill 💨

• The Mets are among the teams to have checked in on Marlins RHP Sandy Alcantara, but the asking price is thought to be steep (NY Post)

• New York is also believed to be among a slew of teams to have inquired about White Sox CF Luis Robert Jr. (NY Post)

• Teams have been checking in with the Mets regarding the availability of OF/DH Starling Marte (NY Post)

• The Pirates are still uncertain as to whether or not they will move RHP Mitch Keller - a potential target for the Mets - at the Trade Deadline (The Athletic)

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Who’s Hot 🥵

• Over his last six games, LF Brandon Nimmo is hitting .318/.407/.500/.907 with seven hits, four runs scored, one double, one home run, two walks, and six RBIs

• Nimmo - who owns a .925 OPS for July - also extended his on-base streak to a season-high 18 games

• RHP Rico Garcia has now not allowed a run on just two hits and no walks with eight strikeouts in 7.2 innings for the Mets this season

• After enduring a career-worst slump, SS Francisco Lindor now has five hits, four runs scored, and three RBIs in his last two games

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Play of the Game 🌟

Pete Alonso is more known for destroying baseballs and hitting rockets out of the park.

However, on Friday, the slugger contributed to the win with his glove and used his defense to play a crucial role in the Mets winning five straight. He made three big-time plays in the first two innings alone.

The key play, though came in the third inning.

The Mets were leading 3-1, but the Giants were rallying, and they had a runner at second with two outs and Matt Chapman at the plate. Chapman hit a grounder to Ronny Mauricio at third, which the infielder fielded cleanly. However, his throw over to Alonso was wild and off-target.

Disaster was quickly prevented, however.

Alonso grabbed the ball while leaping off the bag and was able to brush Chapman’s helmet with an outstretched hand. Following a review, Chapman was ruled out, and Alonso’s stellar defensive play stopped the rally and set the tone for the rest of the game.

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Down on the Farm 🌾

• RHP Brandon Sproat (No. 5 prospect, Triple-A): 5.0 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 3 K

• CF Drew Gilbert (No. 12 prospect, Triple-A): 3-for-4, 3 R, 4 RBI, 1 2B, 2 HR

• C Chris Suero (No. 20 prospect, Double-A): 3-for-5, 3 R, 1 RBI, 1 HR, 1 SB

• OF Carson Benge (No. 4 prospect, Double-A): 2-for-4, 1 R, 2 RBI

• 3B Boston Baro (No. 24 prospect, High-A): 3-for-4, 1 RBI, 1 2B, 1 SB

BOX SCORES

Single-A STL | High-A BRK | Double-A BNG | Triple-A SYR

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Today’s Game 🗓️

Match-up: Mets (60-44) vs. Giants (54-50)

Where: Oracle Park - San Francisco, CA

Starters: LHP David Peterson (6-4, 2.90 ERA) vs. LHP Robbie Ray (9-4, 2.92 ERA)

When: 9:05 PM EDT

Where to Watch: SNY

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Why Steven Kwan would be a smart home-run move for the Mets ✍️

David Richard - IMAGN IMAGES

The Mets are officially in full-on shopping mode, having made their first big move ahead of the Trade Deadline.

The team acquired lefty reliever Gregory Soto from the Orioles in exchange for a pair of minor leaguers.

Soto fills a big-time need for the Mets, and he likely won’t be the only reliever acquired over the coming days.

You can read our full breakdown on the Soto trade HERE.

However, while the bullpen is obviously the main focus for the front office, there is a move out there that would significantly improve this ballclub in a number of different areas.

Ladies & Gentlemen, I present to you…

Steven Kwan.

Now, Kwan has been linked to the Mets by ESPN insiders Jeff Passan and Kiley McDaniel, while Jon Heyman of the New York Post also had Kwan on his wishlist for the Mets.

I happen to agree. I think Kwan would be an absolute home run of a move for the Mets, one that would instantly make them better. It would also be an incredibly smart trade, too.

I’m going to tell you why I so strongly believe that, but first, let’s get some of the negatives out of the way.

Firstly, it isn’t a certainty that the Guardians will even want to move on from Kwan. After all, Cleveland is only 2.5 games back of a Wild Card spot in the American League. Plus, Kwan is a valuable asset who is under control for the next two seasons after this one. They do not have to move him at all. ESPN has it at a 20% chance of Kwan being moved.

Even if the Guardians did decide to sell, Kwan would command one hell of an asking price, and the package going back to Cleveland would be substantial. We’re talking a couple of top prospects at least. Brandon Sproat would probably have to be part of the return, as well as maybe another high-profile pitching prospect.

Furthermore, another roadblock is the fact that Kwan plays left field, meaning that Brandon Nimmo would have to move back to center field.

Why would that be a problem?

Well, Nimmo played 136 games in center field in 2023 with a -7 Defensive Runs Saved. You would be weakening your defense out in center field by acquiring Kwan.

However, now let’s look at the abundance of positives.

Now, I will admit that I have some personal bias here given that I’ve always loved Kwan as a player. I mean, what isn’t to love? Sure, he has his flaws like every other player on the planet, but there is no denying the elite skillset he brings to the table. He has elite bat-to-ball skills, he has stellar Gold Glove defense out in left field, and he has been an All-Star in each of the past two seasons.

Kwan is currently hitting .287/.352/.410/.762 on the year with eight home runs, 20 doubles, 11 stolen bases, 38 walks, and 35 RBIs. He gets on base at a high clip, he puts the ball in play, he can come up with a clutch hit in the biggest moments, and he will be able to offer an added threat on the basepaths too. Kwan’s 11 stolen bases would rank tied fifth on the Mets right now.

Granted, he’s currently hitting .301/.375/.463/.838 against righties, and .262/.308/.308/.615 against lefties. But Kwan would bring some more balance to the lineup as a left-handed hitter, in addition to some added production. That could be key given that Jesse Winker has struggled to stay healthy this year. Kwan would help to lengthen that lineup. Plus, he does offer some pop as well, as evidenced by his two-homer game earlier this week.

Ken Blaze - IMAGN IMAGES

Now, as it pertains to the outfield, Kwan would upgrade the Mets’ defense substantially. As of last week, Kwan was leading all left fielders in Defensive Runs Saved (13) this season. He also ranked in the 83rd percentile FRV (Fielding Run Value) at +4. Again, moving Nimmo to center field wouldn’t be ideal, but you would be getting an elite left fielder. Plus, Heyman noted in his story that Kwan would be willing to move over to center field. In that situation, you could keep Nimmo at left, while getting both a better defender and hitter in center field. In both scenarios, that would also allow Jeff McNeil to stay at second base, thus solidifying the infield defensively.

Given that all the options to upgrade at center field are limited at best, Kwan would solve a lot of problems for the Mets. I mean, acquiring a player like Luis Robert Jr. carries a lot of risk and limitations. Kwan offers a boatload of attributes this ballclub currently needs, while he’s under control for the next two years.

It just makes too much sense.

Sure, the Mets would have to give up a hell of a lot in order to acquire Kwan. More than they would have to give up for nearly any other player they have been linked with. But the positives outweigh the negatives here. Kwan is a do-it-all outfielder who would upgrade the team defensively, while also bringing a different skillset to the lineup. And he would be a key contributor for the next two seasons too, as opposed to just being a pure rental.

You can’t keep hold of every good prospect. And, when you are a true contender like the Mets, sometimes you have to give up some of that top prospect capital in order to increase your chances of winning now.

Trading for Kwan would be a swing-for-the-fences type move, but it would also be a smart one. And it would also give the Mets better odds of winning now, and in the future given the multiple needs that Kwan alone could address.

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Around the League 🚩

• The Yankees upgraded at the hot corner, acquiring 3B Ryan McMahon from the Rockies for pitching prospects Griffin Herring and Josh Grosz

• A’s 1B Nick Kurtz became the first rookie - and just the 20th player overall - to hit four home runs in one game, finishing a perfect 6-for-6 at the plate with eight RBIs

• DH Kyle Schwarber hit two home runs - the first homer being his 1,000th career hit - to help the Phillies beat the Yankees 12-5

• 1B Vladimir Guerrero Jr. recorded his fourth consecutive multi-hit game as the Blue Jays beat the Tigers 6-2