Milwaukee Brewers: 4 Trade Proposals For New York Mets Star Pete Alonso
What could a trade for Pete Alonso look like since the Brewers seem interested in a deal?
Ken Rosenthal, writer for The Athletic, reported some big post trade deadline Milwaukee Brewers news in that Matt Arnold was highly engaged in trade discussions for New York Mets star first baseman Pete Alonso.
According to Rosenthal's report the cost to acquire Alonso, who at the time had 1.5 years of team control remaining, was going to center around one of the Crew's 2nd through 5th ranked prospects because top prospect Jackson Chourio was not in the discussions. This means ,Sal Frelick, Jeferson Quero, Jacob Misiorowski, or Tyler Black would have been included in a deal.
The trade deadline has obviously passed, but rumors and trade discussions could pick up again once the season is complete. In no particular order let's explore some potential trade packages between the Brewers and Mets that revolve around Pete Alonso.
Milwaukee Brewers-New York Mets trade proposal for Pete Alonso #1
Brewers receive: 1B Pete Alonso
Mets receive: 1B/3B Tyler Black
This first package is a straight swap of Pete Alonso for Brewers fifth ranked prospect Tyler Black. Baseball trade values has Alonso's median value at 11.9 and Black's at 13.7, so according to their system this deal is relatively fair for both sides but has the Brewers slightly over paying in prospect capital.
Digging deeper the Brewers would get Pete Alonso for one season and would give up a versatile contact and speed oriented player in Tyler Black. Black has been playing the corner infield spots this season and currently has a .910 season OPS with 49 stolen bases at both the Double and Triple-A levles. Theoretically he could slide right into the Mets everyday lineup. With New York in rebuild mode this would give them a great look at Black and get him consistent playing time.
For Milwaukee they would have to weigh the idea of if trading a MLB ready contributor with years of team control left is worth going after a rental player, even one as good as Alonso. They did select two college corner infielders high in the 2023 draft in Brock Wilken and Mike Boeve, so if they part ways with Black there is a good shot that one or both of these other prospects will advance through their minor league system quickly.
If this deal were to go down it would essentially be a boom or bust trade for both sides. Milwaukee would be banking on a bounce back 2024 season from Pete Alonso and New York would be going all in on Tyler Black being an impact big league player.
Milwaukee Brewers-New York Mets trade proposal for Pete Alonso #2
Brewers receive: 1B Pete Alonso
Mets receive: LHP Robert Gasser and SS Eduardo Garcia
This second trade proposal also has the Brewers giving up a MLB ready prospect in southpaw Robert Gasser. He was acquired from the San Diego Padres in the Josh Hader trade a season ago and is currently the team's sixth ranked prospect. He leads the International League in strikeouts and has greatly improved his command this season.
Included along with Gasser is infielder Eduardo Garcia. He is an international signee out of Venezuela and previously was a top 30 prospect. The 21 year old belted 15 home runs a season ago across two minor league levels but has struggled to find his footing in 2023.
Baseball trade values has Gasser and Garcia's combined value at 11.7. As mentioned previously Alonso's is 11.9, so this deal is quite even for both sides. It also gives the Mets a starting pitcher that they can utilize right away.
Milwaukee Brewers-New York Mets trade proposal for Pete Alonso #3
Brewers receive: 1B Pete Alonso
Mets receive: OF Luis Lara and 2B/SS Robert Moore
In this trade package neither of the Brewers prospects are near MLB ready, but both are ranked within their top 30. Milwaukee, according to MLB Pipeline, has the third best farm system, in which Lara is ranked ninth and Moore 17th.
Luis Lara, an 18 year old switch hitting outfielder from Venezuela, has broken out across two levels of A-Ball this year. He does not slug the ball, but he has collected a lot of base hits and excels at putting balls in play. At 18 years old he appears to be another Brewers teenage prospect who could ascend quickly.
The second prospect in this deal is 21 year old Robert Moore. He was selected 72nd overall by the Brewers in the 2022 MLB draft. Similar to Lara he also is a switch hitter with a plus hit tool and has not showed immense signs of power yet. Long term he figures to be more of a second baseman due to fringy arm strength, but his glove and athleticism plays at either position.
This trade package is different than the rest in that no MLB ready prospects would be heading the Mets way. However there is a lot of potential regarding Luis Lara. His stock may only continue to rise so this offseason may be anyone's best chance in acquiring him.
Milwaukee Brewers-New York Mets trade proposal for Pete Alonso #4
Brewers receive: 1B Pete Alonso and RHP Drew Smith
Mets receive: 1B/3B Tyler Black and LHP Russell Smith
In order to spice up the trade package relief pitcher Drew Smith was included along with Pete Alonso. Smith, a 29 year old with one year of team control remaining, is entering his final season of arbitration in which he is making $1.3MM in 2023. He would be a rental player for Milwaukee but contract wise he would be affordable.
Through five big league seasons Drew Smith has a career 3.42 ERA. Over the past three seasons he has tossed 41-46 innings each and had a career best 2.40 ERA in 2021. His reliability would be valued by the Brewers and he could be viewed as expendable from the Mets given his expiring ability to be under team control after the 2024 season.
Included along side Brewers infield prospect Tyler Black is left-handed pitcher Russell Smith. The Brewers selected Russell Smith in the second round of the 2021 MLB draft. His ERA has remained inflated in the minor leagues but his ability to strikeout batters this year is way up (65 strikeouts in 47.1 innings pitched). A swap of Smith's between Milwaukee and New York could make some sense as it gives the Mets a talented 6'7" prospect with swing and miss stuff.
Time will tell if Milwaukee pursues Pete Alonso again or not this off-season. If Matt Arnold manages to acquire him then it could be likely that the Brewers go "all in" next year by also retaining their star players such as Corbin Burnes, Brandon Woodruff, and Willy Adames as they all are set to be free agents at the end of the 2024 season.