After coming within two wins of reaching what would have been the franchise’s fifth World Series appearance in 2024, the New York Mets entered 2025 with enormous expectations. Their confidence was justified — after all, they had just landed superstar slugger Juan Soto on a historic 15-year, $765 million contract, the richest free-agent deal ever signed.
That addition, combined with the club building the second-highest payroll in Major League Baseball, positioned the Mets as one of the clear favorites not only to return to the postseason, but to finally push through and capture a championship.
However, the season unfolded far differently than anyone in the organization could have imagined. Despite holding a 5.5-game lead in the National League East as late as June 12, the Mets unraveled in spectacular fashion. What began as a promising campaign quickly deteriorated into a stunning collapse.
Following the All-Star break, the team managed to win only 28 of 65 games, a slump that dragged them out of playoff contention entirely. They finished the year with just 83 victories, falling 13 games behind the division-winning Philadelphia Phillies, a dramatic underperformance for a club built and paid to dominate.
Now the Mets face a pivotal offseason with major questions needing answers. Significant roster changes seem unavoidable. Their franchise home run leader, Pete Alonso, has already reached free agency, and unless the team manages to bring him back, they will be forced to move forward without one of the most productive sluggers in team history.
The organization has also moved on from one of its most familiar faces. Longtime outfielder Brandon Nimmo, who spent a decade in Queens, was traded to the Texas Rangers in exchange for second baseman Marcus Semien, a deal emphasizing defensive stability over long-running continuity.
With a disappointing season behind them and several major players no longer in the picture, the Mets must chart a new path. Whether they choose to retool around Soto and a handful of remaining stars, or pursue even more dramatic changes, the coming months will be crucial in determining how quickly they can rebound from a year that fell disastrously short of expectations.
Wild 3-Team Trade Brings Arenado to New York
A fresh trade concept from an MLB.com analyst suggests a dramatic shake-up for the New York Mets’ roster while simultaneously giving a boost to the Seattle Mariners—last season’s American League Championship Series runners-up—in a bold three-team transaction that also includes the St. Louis Cardinals. The proposal, crafted by MLB.com writer Anthony Castrovince, envisions a deal significant enough to alter the direction of all three franchises involved.
Central to the idea is St. Louis’ ongoing need to move forward with their rebuilding efforts. Under the terms of the suggested trade, the Cardinals would be relieved of the financial burden tied to Nolan Arenado, their eight-time All-Star third baseman, who is owed $31 million across the next two seasons. Shedding that commitment would help St. Louis redirect resources toward younger talent and long-term roster flexibility as they continue restructuring.
In this hypothetical scenario, Arenado would find a new home in Queens. The Mets, looking for an upgrade at third base after a season in which Brett Baty and Mark Vientos combined to cover the position, would immediately benefit from Arenado’s established defensive excellence and his long track record of offensive production.
Even though 2025 saw Arenado endure one of the most prolonged slumps of his career, New York would be betting on the idea that his downturn was temporary rather than permanent. The organization would be wagering that his bat rebounds closer to the .846 OPS he has averaged throughout his career—a level of output that would represent a significant improvement over the Mets’ recent third-base performance.
The Mariners’ role in the three-club arrangement adds another layer of intrigue, as the deal is constructed to support Seattle’s pursuit of another deep postseason push. While the specifics of their return aren’t detailed in this summary, the concept positions them to benefit by filling roster needs or strengthening their depth through pieces moved between the Mets and Cardinals.
Overall, the trade as outlined by Castrovince is designed to address each team’s most pressing situations: clearing salary and pivoting for the Cardinals, upgrading an underperforming position for the Mets, and bolstering an AL contender in the Mariners. If such a massive transaction were ever to materialize, it would be one of the most notable moves of the offseason and a reshaping moment for all three clubs.
Unique Pitching Prospect Also Part of Deal
In this proposed three-team blockbuster, the New York Mets would give up only a minimal prospect asset—right-handed pitcher Camden Lohman, ranked No. 30 in their farm system. Lohman’s inclusion is modest because the central piece being moved is actually St. Louis Cardinals utility standout Brendan Donovan, who is slated to land in Seattle as part of the arrangement.
To balance that, the Mariners would part with one of their most highly regarded young talents: 21-year-old outfielder Lazaro Montes, currently listed as the organization’s No. 3 prospect by MLB Pipeline. His bat and long-term upside make him one of the most notable prospects changing hands in this proposed swap.
The Mets, for their role in taking on Nolan Arenado’s sizable remaining contract commitment, would also secure an additional, intriguing young arm from the Mariners’ pipeline. That bonus piece is Jurrangelo Cijntje, Seattle’s 2024 first-round draft choice out of Mississippi. Cijntje, a 22-year-old hurler who was raised in Curaçao — the island that produced future Hall of Fame closer Kenley Jansen and Boston Red Sox Gold Glove center fielder Ceddanne Rafaela — already carries a fascinating pedigree and international background.
What truly makes Cijntje stand out, however, is a trait almost never seen at the professional level. He is a legitimate switch-pitcher, capable of throwing with either arm depending on the situation. This rare versatility adds another layer of value to his profile, making him one of the most unique pitching prospects in baseball.
His ability to alternate hands gives him strategic flexibility, the potential to produce difficult matchups, and an unusual developmental path that front offices find both compelling and challenging to project. For the Mets, adding such an uncommon talent would help soften the financial burden of absorbing Arenado’s contract, giving them a young, high-ceiling pitcher who could become one of the most interesting long-term experiments in their system.
Overall, the mechanics of the trade revolve around Donovan heading to Seattle, Montes moving to St. Louis as a premium prospect return, and the Mets receiving Cijntje as the additional upside piece. Lohman’s inclusion is minor by comparison, functioning more as a balancing detail in a proposal driven by major-league needs, payroll considerations, and the Mariners’ willingness to part with a pair of noteworthy young players to acquire Donovan’s versatility.
Switch Pitching More Than Gimmick
Switch-pitcher Jurrangelo Cijntje’s rare two-handed pitching talent is far more than a novelty act — it has already accelerated his rise through the Seattle Mariners’ farm system. In just his first full season of professional baseball, the 5-foot-11, 200-pound hurler moved rapidly through the lower levels and finished the year at Double-A. His rapid progression has pushed him into elite prospect status, earning him the No. 8 overall ranking among Mariners prospects according to MLB Pipeline.
Cijntje’s profile as a right-handed pitcher is particularly electrifying. MLB Pipeline’s evaluators note that his right-arm fastball can climb as high as 98 mph, giving him a legitimate power pitcher’s foundation. He complements that heater with a sharp 90 mph slider, a pitch with late movement that helps him miss bats, as well as a developing changeup that adds a different speed and look to keep hitters off balance. This combination makes him a viable long-term starting rotation candidate when working from his natural right side.
However, his left-handed arsenal offers a striking contrast in style and utility. When Cijntje shifts to the mound as a southpaw, MLB Pipeline describes his approach as more reminiscent of a reliever. He drops into a lower arm slot, which creates deception and horizontal movement, particularly on a sweeping breaking ball that sits in the low-80s.
His lefty fastball typically works in the low-90s, not overpowering but effective when paired with his movement and angle. The different delivery and repertoire give hitters an entirely new look, often making it feel as if the Mariners are deploying two different pitchers.
Seattle has embraced his unusual skill set with a development plan tailored to maximize both sides of his game. Throughout his short professional tenure, the organization has implemented a structured routine: Cijntje takes the mound as a right-handed starter on Saturdays, allowing him to build innings and refine his deeper pitch mix. Then, midweek on Wednesdays, he returns in a relief role but pitches exclusively left-handed. This schedule not only preserves his arm health but also ensures consistent work for both of his distinct pitching identities.
While ambidextrous pitchers are extremely rare in baseball, Cijntje’s early success has proven that his ability is not a sideshow. Instead, it may ultimately become one of the Mariners’ most valuable developmental projects, giving the organization a uniquely versatile weapon with the potential to impact games in multiple ways.
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