MLB Trade Mock: Mets Land Willi Castro and Danny Coulombe from Twins

The New York Metshave made it evident…they are going to be seeking relief pitching. They should also be making efforts to acquire a center fielder.

They can achieve both of these by providing theMinnesota Twinsa call. The Twins are four games behind the last American League Wild Card position, yet they are three games below .500 and not seen as a competitive team.

They have several rentals on their list that are likely to be available for trade. Forget about Harrison Bader. The Mets are familiar with Bader from last year, and by the end of the season, Bader was seeing less playing time compared to Tyrone Taylor.

The Mets should be focusing on Willi Castro from Minnesota. Castro was an All-Star last year and is capable of playing nearly any position on the field. This would provide the Mets with significant flexibility when it comes to rotating players across different positions during a playoff run and in the postseason.

The other option is left-handed reliever Danny Coulombe, whom any competitive team will likely inquire about from the Twins. Coulombe has been the most effective lefty reliever in MLB, posting a 0.63 ERA in 28.2 innings this season. Why not pursue a deal for both?

New York Mets – Minnesota Twins MLB Fantasy Trade

New York Mets Receive

OF/IF Willi Castro

LHP Danny Coulombe

Minnesota Twins Receive

Mets’ No. 7 ranked prospect and SS/3B Jesus Baez

Mets’ No. 16 prospect and outfielder Nick Morabito

Mets’ No. 22 prospect and right-handed pitcher Jonathan Pintaro

Mets’ No. 24 prospect and right-handed pitcher Dom Hamel

The Mets acquire a flexible player in Castro, who has batted .259 with a .348 on-base percentage, along with 10 home runs, 27 RBIs, and eight stolen bases. Although Castro has only appeared in one game in center field this season, he has played 92 games there throughout his career. This is significantly more than Jeff McNeil, who has only recently begun playing there this season. Castro has spent substantial time in left field, right field, second base, shortstop, and third base during his career. He is a top utility player who can make a real difference for the Mets.

Coulombe is another contract nearing its end that could effectively address a gap in the Mets’ bullpen. They recently brought back Brooks Raley, who has performed well so far, but Coulombe would provide the team with a second left-handed pitcher to fill the void created by A.J. Minter’s season-ending injury. The 35-year-old lefty has been one of the most dependable relievers in baseball, posting an ERA of 1.46 in 2022, 2.81 in 2023, 2.12 in 2024, and 0.63 this year. He currently leads all relievers in ERA in MLB.

The Twins would strengthen their developmental system through this trade, sacrificing two months of games in exchange for the possibility of long-term gains with four promising prospects.

Jesus Baez, who is only 20 years old, holds the No. 7 position in the Mets’ rankings. He is currently playing for high-A Brooklyn, where he has a .250 batting average, a .344 on-base percentage, along with nine home runs and 41 RBIs. He has already gained experience at second base, third base, and shortstop within the minor leagues.

Nick Morabito has shown great promise in the minor leagues at only 22 years old. He has primarily played center field and occasionally the corner outfield positions, and he’s known for his speed on the bases, having stolen 33 bases this season and an impressive 59 last year. Morabito is batting .288 with a .360 on-base percentage for Double-A Binghamton. The main criticism of Morabito is that he lacks significant power. However, over the past two seasons, he has consistently made contact and contributed with his base stealing ability.

Jonathan Pintaro is a right-handed pitcher with interesting abilities, who appeared in .2 innings earlier this season at the major league level. The 27-year-old has experienced an unpredictable path to reach this point and is currently in his second minor league campaign. Pintaro has primarily been a starter, but since joining triple-A at the beginning of July, he has transitioned more into a relief role.

Dom Hamel is a starting pitcher who has primarily transitioned to the bullpen for Triple-A Syracuse. The 26-year-old right-handed pitcher has slightly fallen in the Mets’ prospect rankings this season, landing at No. 24, but remains just one step away from the major leagues.

Pintaro and Hamel have the potential to reach the major leagues with Minnesota either this season or during the next campaign. Morabito is expected to be ready in approximately one or two years. Baez is likely to take two or three years before making it to the majors. The Twins would acquire two pitchers and two position players to strengthen their farm system, in exchange for two players who may depart via free agency. This trade is a logical choice for both parties involved.

Fantasy Baseball Impact:

If Castro were to be a part-time player for the Mets, he likely wouldn’t add much value to your team. However, he would become part of a stronger lineup in Queens, providing him with more opportunities to face pitches. Coulombe would have plenty of chances to assist Edwin Diaz in setup roles, but he isn’t worth keeping on the roster as he won’t earn any saves.