“Alvarez, producing .356 with 12 HR, 27 RBI, and a 1.199 OPS in 32 games, would immediately transform a struggling offense into one built around one of baseball’s most dominant hitters, changing the entire lineup dynamic and raising run production across the board.”

Shea suggested that the mock trade would require the Mets trading McLean, the most promising of the prospects that would be included. He noted that this trade would shift the balance of the entire franchise, going all-in on building an elite offense.

“The cost would center around a major piece like Nolan McLean, who has delivered a 2.55 ERA, 45 strikeouts, and 35.1 innings against MLB competition, signaling that even strong young talent would be sacrificed in a win-now push,” Shea wrote. “Overall, it’s a franchise-altering move: the Mets using a rough start as the trigger for an aggressive reset, betting big on elite offense to quickly flip their season and trajectory.”

Mets Not Making Desperate Moves Just Yet

While Mets manager Carlos Mendoza has faced firing rumors as the team’s slump continues, it appears his job is safe. Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns told MLB.com that they don’t blame Mendoza for the rough start.

“We know our record is not what we want, and we know we are capable of more,” Stearns said. “We don’t view this as a manager problem, and we don’t intend to make a change.”

The Mets have overhauled their roster in the offseason, parting ways with a trio of reliable hitters in Pete Alonso, Brandon Nimmo, and Jeff McNeil.

It’s not clear if Mendoza’s job will remain safe through the summer, especially with a difficult stretch ahead that includes series against the Detroit Tigers and New York Yankees. If the Mets should sink too far from playoff contention, any trade for Alvarez could be out of the question and the team could instead look to sell off some assets in anticipation of a larger rebuild.