Four Mock Trades That Could Complete the Mets Bullpen

Both of these flamethrowers are far from complete products. Each has command issues and does not strike out as many hitters as they should.

A trade could benefit both Vodnik and Halvorsen by getting them out of Coors Field and into an organization that has a much better track record of developing pitching.

In return, New York would send Mark Vientos and pitching prospect Douglas Orellana.

Vientos is the main piece in this trade, coming off a down 2025 season.

After a breakout 2024 in both the regular season and postseason, he took a major step back last year, and now New York could look to move on from him.

With four more seasons of team control and intriguing offensive upside, Vientos still holds trade value that Colorado could find intriguing. Especially given the fact that the Rockies have a need at first base, the position he projects to stick at the long term.

Orellana is a near major league-ready arm who could slot directly into Colorado’s bullpen in 2026.

In his first season as a full-time reliever across Double-A and Triple-A, Orellana posted a 2.96 ERA, striking out 28.9% of hitters he faced.

With New York’s lineup acquisitions this offseason, Vientos is not projected to be an everyday player heading into spring training. If the Mets want to move on from him, a trade like this makes sense.

Both teams would be taking flyers on players who could become highly productive with a change of scenery. The Mets could use some flamethrowers to add to their bullpen mix, and the fact that they both come with three options makes them all the more attractive.

The Rockies could have an All-Star on their hands in Vientos if he hits to his potential. And he will have a better chance to get there if he is playing 81 games at Coors Field.

3. Mets Deal For Strikeout Machine

Mets Receive: Bryan Abreu

Astros Receive: David Peterson, Nick Morabito, R.J. Gordon

Bryan Abreu has been one most consistent relievers in all of baseball this decade and would be a perfect addition for the Mets.

Abreu’s arsenal is very limited, as he only throws a four-seam fastball and slider. However, he makes the two-pitch mix effective because of a lively fastball and a wicked slider.

Last season, he struck out 35.2% of batters he faced and generated whiffs 41.2% of the time. Both elite marks place him in the 98th and 99th percentile, respectively.

The right-hander has appeared in at least 70 games out of the bullpen in each of the last three seasons. Additionally, his postseason track record with the Astros is impressive, as he pitched to a 2.49 ERA across 21.2 career playoff innings.

Like Morejon, Abreu is set to hit free agency after 2026, meaning this deal could be a rental situation for New York.

In exchange, the Astros receive David Peterson and two prospects: Nick Morabito and R.J. Gordon. Morabito is ranked 12th in the Mets’ farm system according to Just Baseball and is very close to being major league-ready.

Gordon made 21 starts across High-A and Double-A in 2025 and is also close to being ready for the show. While neither has appeared in Triple-A yet, both project to begin the season at that level with the Mets.

Houston has a history of stockpiling starting pitching, and the Astros could add 24-year-old R.J. Gordon to a long list of rotation options.

Meanwhile, Morabito, 22, fills an organizational need in the outfield. At the very least, he would bring speed to the Astros’ lineup, an area where they struggled in 2025 after swiping just 85 bags as a team.

The kicker, of course, is the fact that on top of the prospects, we are including Peterson in this deal. You might wonder what the difference is between Abreu and Adrian Morejon, where Peterson was able to fetch one rental by himself, while the other requires multiple prospects in return.

The difference here is that trading Abreu creates a hole in the Astros bullpen that would be hard to fill at this stage in the offseason. Meanwhile, the Padres still have a loaded bullpen that would have Mason Miller and Jeremiah Estrada if they dealt Morejon.

Furthermore, Abreu has a longer track record of success than Morejon and misses bats at an elite rate that makes him a bit more dynamic as well. If the Astros fell out of it at the deadline, they could trade Abreu and likely get a prospect much better than Gordon or Morabito.

Set to hit free agency at 29 years old, the Astros could even consider tagging Abreu with a qualifying offer. If he takes it, they have an extremely valuable reliever on a one-year deal that may only be a bit above his market value anyway. If he declines, you get a comp pick when he signs elsewhere.

The Astros are going to have to be blown away to trade Abreu this late in the offseason, and this is a trade that can do a little bit of that. Peterson could provide valuable innings this season, while Morabito could quickly work himself into the mix for a team who needs outfield depth.

Gordon is the player with the most upside long-term, giving the Astros a chance at developing an arm that can fill a spot in the back of their rotation for years to come.

The Mets give up a lot of value in this deal, but get the best player in return. They can also easily head into the free agent market and backfill Peterson’s innings with someone like Jose Quintana.

4. Mets Add Soft-Tossing Lefty

Mets Receive: JoJo Romero

Cardinals Receive: Osiris Calvo, Adolfo Miranda

JoJo Romero hit his stride in the major leagues after being dealt to St. Louis in 2022. The 29-year-old enjoyed a career year in 2025, posting a 2.07 ERA across 61 innings of work.

Similar to Morejon, Romero excels at suppressing hard contact and generates ground balls at an elite clip. He also fits the Mets’ need for another left-handed reliever in their bullpen. Romero primarily throws a glove-side slider that is especially effective against left-handed hitters.

In return, St. Louis would receive two lower-level prospects with upside. The Cardinals are currently in the midst of a rebuild and should look to stockpile assets to deepen their farm system.

Miranda is a 19-year-old outfielder who posted a 114 wRC+ in 51 DSL games in 2025. Calvo is a 21-year-old left-handed pitcher who recorded a 2.51 ERA in the DSL last year. Calvo is especially intriguing due to his six-foot-four frame.

Both players have a long way to go before reaching the majors, but they have shown promise early in their professional careers. With stateside development, Miranda and Calvo could become a solid return for the Cardinals in this deal.

Romero is also set to be a free agent after 2026, and if he is not traded before the season, he will likely be dealt at this summer’s trade deadline. He is a strong fit for the Mets and would slot into this bullpen as a valuable middle-relief option.