ESPN’s David Schoenfield identifies the most likely Mets trade candidate as right-hander Jonah Tong. Tong has yet to appear for the Mets this season, after a stint in which he struggled after a promotion to the Majors last year. He has a 7.04 ERA in 15.1 innings at the Triple-A level this season and remains No. 43 in MLB.com’s ranking of top prospects, though scouts have questioned his mechanics and consistency.
Schoenfield’s broader assessment of the Mets highlights injuries to Juan Soto and a tepid start from Francisco Lindor as part of a larger set of early-season issues. He notes that several offseason moves by executive David Stearns have not yet paid dividends, including questions around players like Jorge Polanco, Marcus Semien, Bo Bichette, and Devin Williams. Among those, Bichette is cited as the one who might be expected to improve.
Trading Tong could serve two paths for the Mets: use the prospect to facilitate a push for immediate veteran help at the deadline, or move him while his value remains relatively high if the club determines it cannot contend this season. Tong’s lack of MLB action this year and his current minor-league results leave the decision open to interpretation, even as his upside as a mid-rotation option persists.
Mets playoff odds have plunged to about 41.4% according to Fangraphs, down from 79.5% at the start of the season. While an 11-game skid can derail a campaign, history shows teams have recovered to reach the postseason, with five clubs doing so after similar stretches last year alone, including the Cleveland Guardians’ late-season rally.
As the season progresses, the Mets’ direction will hinge on performance reviews inside the organization and how quickly they can stem the slide. Tong’s status as a potential trade chip adds another layer to the franchise’s timing and strategy ahead of the Trade Deadline, with a decision likely to reflect a broader assessment of whether the club is in a position to contend or to rebuild.
