It would be a perfect example of learning from past mistakes if the Mets could pull off a similar trade from the past but in reverse.
Surely, no one would be foolish enough to make the same error twice. Then again, just look at our upcoming presidential election. Regardless of your political stance, voting for either candidate might feel like the Mets re-signing Oliver Perez despite knowing his past performance issues.
Repeating the same mistake is infuriating for sports fans. However, correcting those mistakes and getting it right the second time around can win over fans, leading to increased merchandise sales, season ticket purchases, and enthusiastic support. The 2022 trade deadline deal between the Mets and the Pittsburgh Pirates is an example the Mets should aim to reverse this summer. Instead of trading a promising young reliever like Colin Holderman for a veteran like Daniel Vogelbach, they should do the opposite. Who wants DJ Stewart?
The Mets should consider trading DJ Stewart for a relief pitcher with potential.
Would another general manager really make such a trade? We’re nearing the two-year anniversary of the original deal. Has the value of young pitchers and left-handed hitters who struggle against lefties shifted that much? The Vogelbach for Holderman trade has clearly benefited the Pirates more. Holderman, although not a notable prospect at the time, was still a valuable bullpen asset for the Mets, posting a 2.04 ERA at the time of the trade. This season, despite allowing a run to the Mets on Sunday, he has maintained an impressive 1.93 ERA, down from 3.86 in 2023.
Stewart is currently in a major slump, so GMs won’t be clamoring for him. Still, there must be some promising, non-prospect pitcher the Mets could acquire for him, right?
The Cincinnati Reds have struggled with a .578 OPS from their designated hitters this season, and their right fielders haven’t been much better at .624. Statistically, Stewart’s .639 OPS would be an upgrade. The Reds trail the Mets in the NL Wild Card standings but not by much. Their bullpen consists mostly of older pitchers in their 30s, many with minor league options remaining. They recently traded lefty Alex Young to the San Francisco Giants for Austin Slater. Slater is having a similarly weak season to Stewart, with an OPS of .575.
Young is the type of player the Mets could aim to get for Stewart. He posted a 3.86 ERA last season in 53.2 innings for the Reds. Although limited to only 2 innings this season and spending much of the year in Triple-A, the Mets could aim a little higher or younger. They should look for a player like Dedniel Nunez, who has yet to fully develop.