TORONTO — The first Mets move came last Thursday when the front office cleared a spot in their pitching staff when it traded David Peterson to the Cubs.
But the bigger wave came a day later as Carlos Mendoza was shown the door. As the Mets changed managers, a statement was made: play better or there will be changes.
Not much has changed since Andy Green has taken the helm as interim manager. The Mets are 2-3 in games managed by their new skipper, and that won’t be enough to prevent wholesale changes from taking place at the Aug. 3 trade deadline.
With that in mind, here are our rankings of the Mets’ top trade chips who could net some assets over the next month or so:
Luke Weaver
It does not get much better than the lift that Weaver has provided in the late innings for the Mets. With another perfect frame on Tuesday night, the right-hander has now gone exactly two months and 24 innings without allowing a run while striking out 31 batters during that stretch.
Which team would not like that type of lockdown arm, especially given how the playoff strategy has evolved in recent seasons. In 34 games this season, Weaver is 2-1 with a 2.00 ERA, 0.81 WHIP and 39 strikeouts in 36 innings.
In a volatile position, Weaver has been remarkably consistent, producing a 2.97 ERA over his last three seasons in the pressure cooker of New York. Weaver is under control for another year after signing a two-year, $22 million deal in the offseason, which could drive up the cost.
Clay Holmes
Holmes might not be able to help immediately after the All-Star break, as he’s still working back from a fractured fibula, but he could certainly bolster a team’s postseason push once he returns.
The veteran right-hander, who is in his second season as a starter for the Mets, was on pace to earn a third All-Star nod before taking a comebacker off his right leg on May 15. He has 4-4 record with a 2.39 ERA and 1.10 WHIP this season as he’s gotten increasingly comfortable in the starting role.
Holmes is set to throw his first bullpen since the injury later this week. It seems unlikely that Holmes would exercise a $12 million option, but the injury and upcoming labor negotiations raise questions to that end.
A.J. Minter
If Minter is on the trade block, he would likely be one of the most enticing left-handers available.
Through 13 appearances this season, the 32-year-old has not allowed an earned run while allowing seven hits and one walk in 12⅔ innings. He has struck out 10 batters.
Minter is in his second and final season with the Mets, earning $11 million this season. He relies on a fastball-heavy repertoire and has not showcased the same type of velocity since returning from a torn lat muscle that kept him out for nearly all of 2026. His cutter sits around 88 mph, with his four-seam fastball at 92.7 mph.
Freddy Peralta
Peralta has not produced like the top-of-rotation arm that he had been throughout his career with the Brewers, but he could assuredly boost a pitching-needy team at the deadline. And he brings postseason experience with him.
The 30-year-old right-hander, who had struck out at least 200 batters in each of his past three seasons coming into this one, has managed a 5-6 record with a 4.53 ERA and 1.37 WHIP in 17 starts. He has struck out 88 batters in 91⅓ innings.
Peralta has made nine postseason appearances, with a 1-3 record and 4.32 ERA in October. Peralta is only making $8 million this season and his track record could make him enticing. But he’s unlikely to command the two top 100 prospects that the Mets gave up to get him.
Brooks Raley
Since returning from elbow surgery and inking a two-year deal with the Mets last season, Raley has been one of the club’s most pleasant surprises. After producing a 2.45 ERA and 0.78 WHIP in 30 appearances last season, the left-hander has made a solid encore with a 2.32 ERA in 31 innings.
The 38-year-old has given up more contact this season, with a 1.32 WHIP but has managed 26 scoreless appearances in 34 outings. With a diabolical sweeper and reasonable luck against righties, Raley could fill a left-handed need for a deficient team this deadline.
Brett Baty
The Mets don’t have much in the way of tradeable position-player assets on their roster, with a number of massive contracts that would be hard to move at the deadline. That could bring the controllable, upside plays into the picture for teams at the deadline.
With an added ability to play third base, second base and the outfield, Baty could be a versatile option who hits from the left side. Baty’s glove might be his best asset right now, with the 25-year-old producing a meager .588 OPS. But he’s a prime change-of-scenery candidate who showed a decent flash at the end of last season when he posted an .829 OPS in the second half.
He is arbitration eligible for two more seasons.
Mark Vientos
If a team wants to gamble on potential, Vientos certainly fits the mold. The 26-year-old’s 2024 season when he bashed 27 home runs and drove in 71 runs is drifting further and further into the rearview mirror but that ceiling still exists.
He hasn’t shown it in the last two seasons, with a .209/.249/.378 slash line this season, including 10 home runs and 33 RBI. At the very least, Vientos is a platoon designated hitter against left-handed pitching. He has produced an .829 OPS against southpaws this season.
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Ranking the Mets’ top trade chips as struggles continue to mount
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