Cohen praises Padres, emphasizes need for Mets' minor league overhaul
The New York Mets are currently riding high on one of the deepest and most talented farm systems in Major League Baseball, particularly in their pitching prospects. Jonah Tong, Brandon Sproat, and Nolan McLean, who are near the top 50 prospects overall and expected to contribute in the near future, are just a few examples of the promising young talent the Mets have in their pipeline [1][5].
Despite trading multiple top-30 prospects at the 2025 trade deadline to bolster their major league bullpen and acquire established relief pitchers like Ryan Helsley, Tyler Rogers, and Gregory Soto, the Mets' front office has wisely retained the very top prospects, ensuring the overall system quality remains strong [1]. As a result, the Mets' farm system ranks roughly around 11th to 13th midseason based on recent assessments—good but not quite elite top-tier [2][3][5].
The Mets' system is rich in positional players and pitching depth, with several MLB-ready prospects such as Ronny Mauricio, who is recovering from injury but highly talented, on the cusp of making their debut [4].
In contrast, the San Diego Padres' farm system is not explicitly detailed in the given sources, but the Mets' mid-tier upper-ranking suggests that the Padres' system may differ depending on recent trades and prospect development. The Mets' strategic use of their depth in prospects to address immediate MLB roster needs indicates a possible advantage in trading flexibility due to their developmental depth [1][5].
The Mets' owner, Steve Cohen, has praised the Padres' moves, while the Padres themselves have signed highly-touted Korean infielder Ha-seong Kim [6]. As of now, it appears the Mets' main focus remains on the free-agent market, with the Mets' top priority being center fielder George Springer [7].
Steve Cohen suggests that if the Mets were to trade for a pitcher or a star infielder, they would prefer to deal from their MLB-ready talent pool, potentially including JD Davis, Amed Rosario, or Brandon Nimmo [8]. The Mets currently have three talents in MLB Pipeline's top 100: Ronny Mauricio, Francisco Alvarez, and Brett Baty [9].
The Mets have been linked to starting pitchers Trevor Bauer and Tomoyuki Sugano, with the latter attempting to make the jump from Japan after eight professional seasons [10]. Meanwhile, the Padres have made significant moves in Major League Baseball's offseason, acquiring Tampa Bay Rays ace Blake Snell and Chicago Cubs ace Yu Darvish within a 24-hour span [11]. The Padres' additions have given them one of the best pitching staffs in baseball, with the likes of Snell, Darvish, Danielson Lamet, Chris Paddack, Mackenzie Gore, and Mike Clevinger (returning from Tommy John surgery) [12].
Despite the Mets' aggressive trade moves and focus on the free-agent market, some impatient Mets fans have expressed their grievances on social media about the quietness of the Mets after acquiring catcher James McCann earlier this month, in comparison to the Padres' aggressive moves [13]. However, the Mets' strategic approach to balancing present competitive improvement with preserving a strong pipeline of talent suggests they are well-positioned to continue making impactful moves in the future.
[1] MLB.com [2] Baseball America [3] FanGraphs [4] MLB.com [5] ESPN [6] MLB.com [7] SNY [8] MLB Network [9] MLB Pipeline [10] MLB.com [11] MLB.com [12] MLB.com [13] New York Post
Although the Mets have traded some prospects to strengthen their major league bullpen, they still have several top prospects in baseball, such as Jonah Tong, Brandon Sproat, and Nolan McLean [9]. Even with the focus on the free-agent market, the Mets' strategic approach to preserving their farm system’s depth provides trading flexibility for potential deals in sports, including acquiring starting pitchers like Trevor Bauer or Tomoyuki Sugano [10].
