Where Things Stand with Mets' Remaining Trade Chips

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Where Things Stand with Mets' Remaining Trade Chips

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Ezra Lombardi | Last updated Aug 2, 2026 2:36 PM ET

The New York Mets made one of the first noteworthy moves of MLB trade deadline season on Friday, moving reliever A.J. Minter to the Minnesota Twins for two prospects.

The deal was lauded as a win for the Mets considering the return they were able get for a rental piece in Minter who was set for free agency at the end of the year. Starter Freddy Peralta became the next deadline casualty on Sunday, being sent over to join the first-place Tampa Bay Rays.

Still, these arms are expected to be the first of many outgoing parts from a New York club determined to sell-off any veterans with value, both rentals and with years of control.

Perhaps the most valuable of this bunch will be fellow reliever Luke Weaver, who has reportedly been drawing interest from several contending clubs. With a stellar 1.88 ERA and 0.84 WHIP across 41 appearances (43 innings) this season, Weaver has positioned himself to be one of the best relief pitchers moved at this year's deadline.

SNY's Chelsea Janes spoke on Sunday about the current outlook of a deal, reporting that the Mets are "operating as if they're going to trade [Weaver]."

"My understanding as of this morning is, more definitive on Luke Weaver than I've heard so far that they're going to move him."

.@chelsea_janes reports on Mets Pre Game Live that Luke Weaver being traded before tomorrow's deadline is "more definitive" than what she has previously heard pic.twitter.com/pDzw2nxZkr
— SNY Mets (@SNY_Mets) August 2, 2026

Janes also notes that left-handed reliever Brooks Raley is another player to keep an eye on as Monday's 6 p.m. deadline looms, though the Mets may look to prioritize Weaver's market first to maximize the return.

Unlike Minter, Peralta, and Raley, Weaver is in the first of a two-year deal and will be under team control for another season. While this could inform a decision to keep him around, it will also make him more valuable to teams looking to acquire an elite reliever, motivating president of baseball operations David Stearns to move on now if the right offer is there.

Per Will Sammon and Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, the Milwaukee Brewers and Pittsburgh Pirates, among other teams, have shown a strong interest in acquiring Weaver. Other teams known to be looking for bullpen help include the Washington Nationals, Arizona Diamondbacks, New York Yankees, and Houston Astros.

Another name to watch will be Brett Baty, who Janes says is a possible target for clubs with infield injuries in need of a versatile left-handed bat. Baty has had a disappointing year but comes pre-arbitration making less than $1 million, making him a good fit for teams with payroll restrictions.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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