Mets get intriguing Francisco Alvarez trade rumor with Yankees as obvious link

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The New York Mets are going to sell at the MLB trade deadline later this summer, and between now and August 3, the Mets will have a chance to gauge the market for their players.

While some like Freddy Peralta, A.J. Minter, and Brooks Raley seem close to certain to be dealt, others are much more interesting conversations. Luke Weaver, Bo Bichette, and even Francisco Lindor could be on the move. But, so too could their starting catcher.

ESPN's Jorge Castillo named Francisco Alvarez as someone the Mets could trade this summer, and if they were to trade him, the New York Yankees would be an obvious trade partner.

Mets' Francisco Alvarez trade rumor has a clear fit with Yankees

"The Mets could also look to move one of their catchers - Francisco Alvarez or Luis Torrens - with a few clubs thirsty for help behind the plate," Castillo writes.

Castillo believes the Mets could trade Alvarez, and it would make a lot of sense if they did. This team isn't good enough right now, so if a team is willing to spend a bit to land a controllable catcher like Alvarez, a trade wouldn't be a bad idea.

The 24-year-old is under club control through the 2029 season, so he'd bring back a very strong return. If they deal him, the Yankees would be an obvious fit.

Their New York counterpart needs to find a catcher this summer, and with the Colorado Rockies unlikely to trade Hunter Goodman, and the Minnesota Twins looking likely to keep Ryan Jeffers as they're a playoff contender, Alvarez makes sense as a trade option.

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While he's a young catcher who is under control for a while longer, the package the Mets could get for him from the Yankees could make a deal more than worth it.

This season, Alvarez has a .259 batting average with a .773 OPS and 114 OPS+. That would be a significant upgrade for the Yankees, and from the Mets' perspective, they could land a good prospect or two from the Yankees for their 24-year-old catcher.

Any trade, whether it's to the Yankees or another catcher-needy club like the Tampa Bay Rays, isn't very likely with Alvarez. He's a young player who has been good for the Mets during his career so far.

But, with this trade rumor from Castillo, a trade of Alvarez wouldn't be a major surprise. The Mets, if they receive a huge offer, could move their 24-year-old catcher. If they move him, the Yankees make a lot of sense as a landing spot.