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.