It was clear that Justin Verlander would be the next to go after the Mets traded Max Scherzer to the Rangers. Verlander’s primary desire as the Mets neared the remaining trade deadline was returning to Houston.
According to a source, in order for New York and Houston to hold trade talks, outfielder Drew Gilbert, the Astros’ top prospect and 2022 first-round choice, had to be the centerpiece of the talks.
Billy Eppler, the general manager at the time, and owner Steve Cohen completed this transaction. Cohen was engaged financially because the Mets needed to absorb cash in order to receive the desired return.
In the end, a deal was reached wherein the Mets received Verlander and cash in exchange for Gilbert and first baseman/outfielder Ryan Clifford.
Gilbert joined Double-A Binghamton and almost immediately made an impact. Playing all three outfield spots, he slashed.325/.423/.561 (.984 OPS) in 35 games with six home runs and 21 RBI.
Speaking with a few Binghamton players, it’s evident that Gilbert assumed a leadership role on defense almost right away, positioning the other two outfielders during games.
David Stearns, president of baseball operations, should take Gilbert’s close proximity to the major leagues into consideration as he navigates his first offseason with the Mets. In addition to being near the majors, Gilbert is ranked among the top three prospects in the Mets system and is generally regarded as one of the sport’s top 100 prospects. Gilbert is viewed by scouts as an above-average or superior daily outfield player in the future.
This does not negate the Mets’ pursuit—as I detailed here—of an outfielder capable of playing at the starting level this offseason. However, I do believe that this should be one of the things that discourages them from spending a significant amount of money on a current free agent like Cody Bellinger in the long run.
The Mets can use one of the available short-term outfield options, such as Adam Duvall or Joc Pederson, as a bridging outfield option.
Regarding his plan to build his roster, Stearns stated the following in November:
“Over the course of a year, we will assemble a roster that offers enough flexibility to give our young, talented players a chance.”
While Gilbert is probably not the target of the aforementioned, Stearns was probably referring to a group of players that includes him.
Gilbert has been characterized as “playing like his hair is on fire” and is an all-gas, no brakes kind of player. This applies to the ball’s two sides as well. He is hardly never taken advantage of at the plate. He has above-average plate discipline and, despite an aggressive swing, does not strike out frequently (less than 20% at the Double-A level).
With his tendency to barrel balls and his newfound attacking angle, I believe he has the potential to hit 15–20 home runs with lots of doubles power.
With an arm powerful enough to play right field, he can handle the responsibilities of center field in the outfield thanks to his above-average athleticism.
Gilbert will be ready to play any outfield position is needed when he is ready for the big leagues, which is probably sometime in 2024, as Brandon Nimmo’s future is probably in a corner outfield place and Starling Marte needs to show he can stay healthy.
Gilbert, who is 23 years old and has experience in Double-A, should start the 2024 season at Triple-A Syracuse, giving him a chance to see major league action in the first half of the year.
Gilbert should be among the first players to receive the chance to try and establish himself as a major component of the team’s future as the Mets use this season as a chance to test some of their young players and contend for a postseason position.