Ok this will be semi-long and maybe rambling but here it goes
I'm no expert when it comes to "armchair GM" in terms of specific trades that can work, contracts, player control/service time rules etc. so I won't get too detailed in that stuff. The Mets need a total rebuild because I don't think this group of veteran players can win, unfortunately I don't see it happening under BVW and because this silly belief that "New York fans don't do rebuilds"
One of the big issues is the Mets farm system is brutally bad right now, without even looking I would guess certainly bottom 5 in the league and with the exception of Anthony Kay most of the top rated prospects are years away playing in A-ball or lower. Alderson also didn't do that great of a job in the draft with only Conforto, Alonso succeeding in terms of top picks (still too early to rate Dom Smith another 1st rounder) with McNeil and Lugo being the only late round gems
- Lets right off the bat get the unrealistic out of the way, new ownership. Penny pinching and too involved in the on-field baseball decisions, however this is wishful thinking...
- New Manager: This season isn't entirely Mickey's fault but he isn't a good in-game manager and makes some questionable decisions. Unfortunately at this pace he will go down as one of the worst managers in Mets history along with the likes of Jeff Torborg and Art Howe. He simply is not the man to take the Mets to the next level and at this point in the season there is no point in firing him as it's too late for a spark. In the offseason bring in an experienced manager (again, not sure ownership will want them as they have their hands on the team). Everybody is pining for Girardi but I think Showalter would be a good fit.
- Untouchables: deGrom, Alonso, McNeil, Conforto. I would have put Rosario here a few months ago but his defense is a mess despite that being to attribute everybody rated about when coming through the system
- Rotation: Open to trading Syndergaard if you can get a good return. Trade Wheeler but try to sign him in the offseason (with him being on the DL now who knows if this will happen). I've given up on Matz as a starter and would move him to the pen and see how he does there. Move Lugo to the rotation this season and see what he can do. Anthony Kay up in September and hopefully he is ready for next season. Do not want to see any part of Flexen, Oswalt, Lockett anymore and the depth of the SP needs fixing
- Trade all pending UFAs (Frazier, Vargas)...you won't get much in return but hopefully you can hit the jackpot on some middling prospect
- Ideally move McNeil to the infield, because we are stuck with Cano, probably 3B until Lowrie returns
. There is talks about moving Rosario to the outfield and if that's the case, try it out this season and see what you got with him because Lagares is not a major league player and long term I don't see Nimmo as a everyday player (solid 4th/5th OF)
- I mentioned shopping Syndergaard, add Dom Smith, Diaz and Ramos to this list as well and see what you can get. I might be jumping the gun on Diaz but I feel he is too fragile. Dom Smith has probably increased his value but I don't see a spot for him on the team, don't have confidence he can be an everyday outfielder and he isn't gong to play 1B. Ramos will be tough to move but try and give Nido the rest of the season. The star pitchers like pitching to him and he is good defensively. He doesn't hit enough and my hunch is he is nothing more than a reliable backup catcher but worth trying it out.
- As crazy as this sounds, hopefully Cespedes is able to play next season and he should be motivated because it's his walk year and then dump him next summer...maybe wishful thinking but you can't move him easily right now
- Bullpen is obviously a mess but call me crazy but I think a lot of this is down to pure luck, sometimes you have these guys dominate out of nowhere. The only hope is Familia, Diaz, Wilson recover. I like Zamora but the lefty specialist will be obsolete with the new rules coming. No young arms excite me except Drew Smith who is out with Tommy John so his return isn't imminent
However at the end of the day this is the Mets, even if they decide to dump the roster there is little guarantee they will know what they are doing in terms of bringing in players, I certainly have no confidence in it. And as much as I want to see it, I don't think they will ever do a complete rebuild and instead do half-ass year to year roster building and hope for the best