In the aftermath of the MLB Trade Deadline and with the New York Mets going full sell mode, the team has gutted most of their veteran talent. Replacing them with promising prospects. Out are names such as Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander, two players who will be enshrined in Cooperstown one day. As well as closer David Robertson and slugger Tommy Pham. In comes a plethora of young talent to restock a farm system that needed a serious reload. The players they acquired for the two said future Hall of Famers, Luisangel Acuna, and Drew Gilbert are headlining this talented group.
MLB Pipeline Ranks New Mets As Top Acquired Prospects
Acuna, Gilbert Are Ranked #1 And #2
New York and general manager Billy Eppler garnered praise for their deadline activity. One such credit comes from Sam Dykstra of MLB Pipeline. Of every prospect traded at the deadline, he ranked the Mets acquisitions at #1 and #2 on his list. Considering New York had to give up two Hall of Fame pitchers to get them, that’s quite the high praise.
MLB Pipeline has ranked the top prospects traded at the deadline. Here’s where the new Mets landed:
— SNY Mets (@SNY_Mets) August 2, 2023
1. Luisangel Acuña
2. Drew Gilbert
6. Ryan Clifford
8. Marco Vargas
15. Justin Jarvis
23. Ronald Hernandez
25. Jeremiah Jackson
(via @SamDykstraMiLB) pic.twitter.com/5XKhNDOHP1
Not only did he put Acuna and Gilbert at the very top, but he also ranked the other prospect the Mets got for Verlander, Ryan Clifford, at #6. As well as Marco Vargas, one of the two prospects the Mets acquired for Robertson, at #8. Four Mets prospects in the top-10.
Prospects Already Making An Impact
Now the Mets have to sit and wait as the new talent develop under their system. The good news is some of them are already off to great starts. Showing why MLB Pipeline ranked them high after all of the movement at the deadline. For instance, Clifford smashed a home run in his first at-bat in the Mets organization.
His first at-bat with the Mets organization and Ryan Clifford sent this ball a long LONG way.
— Brooklyn Cyclones (@BKCyclones) August 3, 2023
His 17th SAL Home Run of the year went all the way back to Asheville! #AmazinStartsHere #LGM pic.twitter.com/95b4tuzBMj
On Wednesday in Binghamton, Acuna went 1-for-3 with a walk and a single. His first hit as a Met.
💥 The first of many for Luisangel Acuña@acunita13 recorded his first hit as a member of the @Mets’ organization 💥 pic.twitter.com/gy3BiN2539
— Binghamton Rumble Ponies (@RumblePoniesBB) August 3, 2023
Vargas, meanwhile, went 3-for-5 and drove in a run in his Mets organizational debut.
Thrilled to have this guy in the orange & blue 🤩
— Florida Complex League Mets (@FCLMets) July 31, 2023
Marco Vargas had 3 hits in his organization debut, including this RBI knock (96 EV) in the 4th. pic.twitter.com/1pduXf1XVP
On Friday, the second prospect New York got in the Robertson deal, Ronald Hernandez, hit his first home run. He is 23rd on MLB Pipeline’s list.
Ronald Hernandez dingers — now being served in orange and blue!
— Florida Complex League Mets (@FCLMets) August 4, 2023
102 mph off the bat on his first homer with the Mets ⚡️@MetsPlayerDev | #LGM pic.twitter.com/WzgpBdHBP7
So far, so good for the new promising prospects. It’s going to take time and patience, but you can already feel the high expectations for them when they arrive. Billy Eppler and Steve Cohen need them to fulfil their potential.
Main Photo Credits: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Players Mentioned: Max Scherzer, Justin Verlander, David Robertson, Tommy Pham, Luisangel Acuña, Drew Gilbert, Ryan Clifford, Marco Vargas, Ronald Hernandez