Pete Alonso getting traded to the Chicago Cubs is one of those ongoing speculative trade ideas that won’t go away. Joey Mistretta of Clutch Points put together his own trade package involving the All-Star New York Mets first baseman and wisely labeled it as “bonkers.”
The mere idea of trading Alonso this close to Opening Day seems about as far fetched as Steve Cohen calling any of us up to say he wants our help making baseball decisions. It would go against everything we’ve been promised about the team and completely erase any of the attempted improvements they made.
Mistretta’s trade proposal rewards the Mets with three big prospects. If the situation was different, it might be too tempting to pass up.
The deal brings the Mets the second, fourth, and ninth ranked prospects in the Cubs system according to MLB Pipeline. In terms of overall ranking in MLB, Cade Horton is 26th, Busch is 51st, and Wicks is outside of the top 100 but a good one nonetheless.
Horton immediately becomes the best prospect in the farm system with Busch falling into the third-place spot behind him and Jett Williams. It’s the kind of trade proposal that could further improve the Mets farm system. Horton is immediately a future arm to have in the rotation. Busch takes over the job at first base and maybe even sees some action at third base. Three straight minor league seasons of hitting 20+ home runs would have us feeling at least a little at ease.
From a Cubs-perspective, it seems like a lot to give up for a guy who’ll be looking to get a huge contract in the offseason. For the same reasons some have speculated that the Mets could let Alonso walk, the Cubs would be equally as hesitant. Big contracts for first basemen whose main focus is power tend to age poorly. Although he won’t get Miguel Cabrera or Albert Pujols bucks, Alonso should challenge to surpass some of those recent first basemen contracts like the ones received by Freddie Freeman and Matt Olson.
Who says “no” to this deal? Taking passion, hope for 2024, and love for Alonso out of the discussion, it’s too good of an offer for New York to turn down. Two top 51 prospects plus another young left-handed pitcher is the absolute most they could ever get for a slugger in his walk year.
The difference between trading Alonso now and at the trade deadline if the Mets aren’t competing will be big enough to the point where a player like Wicks might be the headliner in a package rather than the third addition. If the Mets’ goal was to get the best return for Alonso, they would have already done so and regrouped much earlier in the offseason. That ain’t the mission. They’re legitimately trying to win with him now with a failsafe in place called the trade deadline if things don’t work.
The Cubs would probably never realistically make an outrageous or “bonkers” offer such as this. It’s a good thing because David Stearns would have a tough call to make. Alienate the fans now for a brighter future or reject the best offer he could ever expect for the beloved slugger. Solving the trolley problem raises fewer ethical questions than this
