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The Mets find themselves in a unique position to leverage their minor league prospects in a trade for Valdez. The Astros have just added a third baseman from the Cubs in the previous deal, which may reduce their need for another, making prospects like Brett Baty less valuable in negotiations. Instead, players such as Ryan Clifford or Drew Gilbert, who have previously caught the Astros' attention, could be more appealing.
The Mets can afford to be aggressive, especially since they recently committed a significant amount to Juan Soto and have Francisco Lindor, Brandon Nimmo, and potentially Pete Alonso on the roster—all key right now and in the immediate future. With this mix of talent, it's indeed the pivotal time for the Mets to chase a championship.