The New York Mets may soon have to decide whether keeping Luke Weaver is worth the risk of losing serious trade value. With the team 37-53 and 11 1/2 games out of a wild card spot, the feeling after the All-Star break is that the Mets figure to make their intentions clear on the trade market.
Weaver is under contract for next season at $12.5 million, which makes him one of the more practical assets for rival teams to target. That matters because the Mets are also trying to position themselves to field a good team in 2027, so every move has to be weighed against what comes next as much as what comes now.
Why Weaver would be in demand
Teams are expected to pursue Weaver aggressively, and that alone raises the price. In a market where useful pitching is always difficult to find, a reliever with control beyond the current season becomes even more valuable.
That is the basic calculation the Mets have to make. If the interest is strong enough, moving Weaver could bring back the type of help that fits both the short term and the longer view, especially with 2027 part of the club’s thinking.
What kind of return would it take?
The same logic applies elsewhere on the roster, which is why Francisco Alvarez and Luis Torrens could also draw attention. The catching market is thin, and one evaluator said it would not be surprising if Alvarez could fetch major-league-ready pitching or hitting help from a different position in a trade.
Earlier this season, the Mets extended Luis Torrens through the 2028 season for $11.5 million, underlining how they are trying to manage value across the roster. Alvarez, at 24 years old, has produced a.734 OPS with nine home runs in 212 plate appearances, while Torrens is 30 and remains part of the club’s longer-range planning.
For Weaver, the question is whether the return would be strong enough to justify weakening the bullpen now. If the Mets do sell after the All-Star break, he is the kind of player who could bring back a meaningful package — but only if another club is willing to pay for scarcity, control and immediate need all at once.
