The New York Mets have not lived up to expectations this season, and they will surely be sellers at the deadline.
Brooks Raley, A.J. Minter, Freddy Peralta, Clay Holmes and Luke Weaver are certainly names to keep an eye on as trade season heats up. However, Francisco Lindor could be a surprise candidate to be dealt. SNY's Chelsea Janes recently reported that only Carson Benge, AJ Ewing, Juan Soto, Christian Scott and Nolan McLean are the only Mets players off limits in trade talks.
During an appearance on "Foul Territory" on Wednesday, USA Today's Bob Nightengale reported that the Mets would "love to move Lindor at some point."
"They don't think they can do it now," Nightengale added on Wednesday. "Just with the money, it's so complicated. If Lindor is moved, it would be an offseason thing, where teams can figure out their payroll and everything else. I'd be surprised to see him still with the Mets a year from now."
Lindor is having a down year, hitting .233 with just eight home runs. Last season he posted a .811 OPS and 31 homers. He is set to make over $32 million over the next five seasons, and if the league does implement a salary cap, his contract will certainly be a problem.
The only bright side of Lindor's season is that he has started to look like himself as of late. He is slashing .263/.352/.513 with five home runs in July. Perhaps if he ends the season strong, the Mets will want to keep him around. However, there are rumors that he and Juan Soto do not get along, so perhaps trading him is the route the Mets prefer.