Mets' trade pursuits could be shaped by package Yankees gave up for Andrew Benintendi

The Mets were impacted in two ways when the Yankees swung a trade with the Kansas City Royals on Wednesday night that brought OF Andrew Benintendi to the Bronx.

First, it took one Mets option off the board.

Second, and more importantly, it served as a likely market-setter when it comes to what the prospect cost will be for players who are set for free agency after the season, like Benintendi.

While trading for Benintendi, the Yanks gave up three pitching prospects, but did not trade any who had significant value. The Yanks dealt their No. 19 and No. 21 prospects, per the MLB Pipeline rankings, and one other prospect who was not ranked within their top 30.

The Yankees' system heading into the season was generally thought of a bit more highly than the Mets. But after the Mets' recent haul in the MLB Draft, their system is now viewed as being in the top 10 or so, putting them on par or even better than the Yankees.

Not every farm system is created equal, and maybe the Royals were bigger fans of the prospects they just acquired from the Yanks for Benintendi than other teams.

But with the market now basically set for rental position players (non-Willson Contreras division), the Mets should be incredibly confident in their ability to trade for another bat without the package going the other way being too painful to let go of.

One pretty apt comparison for Benintendi is Baltimore Orioles OF/1B/DH Trey Mancini, who checks some of the boxes Benintendi does.

Like Benintendi, Mancini is set for free agency after the season and is a solid on-base guy. Mancini hits for more power than Benintendi, but doesn't get on base as much or hit for as high an average.

And in a world where the Mets were to give up their No. 19 and No. 21 prospects as the headliners for Mancini, they would be parting with players who are not viewed as impact pieces.

The same will likely be the case for any reliever the Mets trade for, even high-end ones like Michael Fulmer of the Detroit Tigers and David Robertson of the Chicago Cubs.

Perhaps a team aside from the Royals would rather receive just one higher-end prospect in a deal over two or three who are on the fringes of a team's top 20. And maybe that means the Mets will have to part with someone inside their top 15 or even on the edge of their top 10 for one of the players they're likely to add between now and the deadline -- someone like Mancini, Fulmer, or Robertson.

When it comes to a player like Contreras, he might cost a bit more due to the lack of impact catchers on the market. Contreras is literally the only one. But even if the Mets deal for Contreras, they should be able to do so without giving up any of their most highly thought of prospects. In other words, no one in their top 6 or 7.

And with the Mets rightfully hesitant to trade their most valued prospects -- especially in deals for rental players -- they should be glad with the relatively minimal cost the Yanks just paid to acquire Benintendi.