The Mets’ acquisition of Edwin Diaz and Robinson Cano is imminent, save for a few procedural hoops for the teams to jump through.
The New York Mets and Mariners are finalizing a deal that will send Edwin Diaz, Robinson Cano, and $20 million to New York for Jay Bruce, Anthony Swarzak, Jarred Kelenic, Justin Dunn, and Gerson Bautista per Joel Sherman of the New York Post.
This isn’t complete but as Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports, the deal is clearing the final hurdles which include physicals, approval from the commissioner’s office, and approval from Cano. Rosenthal is also reporting that the deal should be finalized “early next week.”
Prospect hugging is rampant in the offseason. Undoubtedly, there are Mets fans slamming their palms to their faces right now. Kelenic and Dunn were two of the prized prospects in a Mets farm system that isn’t all that deep.
That being said, this trade gives manager Mickey Callaway an elite closer in his bullpen and a veteran left-handed bat in the lineup. This move signals that the Mets are interested in winning right now.
Of course, this is the type of move that always seems to backfire on the Metropolitans. Trading for an aging Cano is about as “Mets” as it gets. But as Billy McInerney of ESNY points out, the main takeaway from this trade is that the Mets secured an elite reliever under team control through 2022.
Mets fans should be excited about this move. Brand new general manager, Brodie Van Wagenen, is showing aggressiveness and creativity this offseason. This won’t be the last move Van Wagenen makes this offseason.
