The San Diego Padres and New York Mets could pull off a massive deal this trade season. 

There is no doubt that A.J. Preller is never one to sleep on improving the San Diego Padres.

He will not stop at anything to upgrade the roster.

The New York Mets are once again failing on their quest for a World Championship. In fact, at this point, they are more than 15 games behind the Atlanta Braves for first place in the Eastern Division. They are also more than 15 games under the .500 mark on the season. The Mets are not going anywhere in 2026.

Rumors around New York are centered in the fact that chemistry is a major issue for the underperforming team. The Mets seem unmotivated, and clubhouse issues are at a head.

Earlier this week, Mets’ owner Steven Cohen confirmed in a podcast that Juan Soto and Francisco Lindor were having issues, but that it was mostly last year. He indicated that they are getting along much better now. Wait. What? Making that public knowledge is crazy. This franchise is not a well-oiled machine right now.

The fact that these two can’t get along is a major red flag moving forward. Lindor missed several weeks earlier this season, so he essentially has not been around the team often. Perhaps that’s why the two players are not feuding in 2026…. yet.  And why is this even being discussed outside the clubhouse? How is that a thing?

No matter how you shake it, the star players are not getting along, and this is a major problem.

Lindor is also growing ire from the fan base for his actions in the team trading Brandon Nimmo and the team not signing Pete Alonso. Both men were popular players with the Mets, but were sent packing after not playing well with Lindor. These are rumors, but there seems to be some issue with Lindor and his ex-teammates.

The new mayoral race in New York has also given Mets fans another reason to question Lindor. Katia Lindor, the wife of Mets superstar Francisco Lindor, was a member of New York City mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani’s inaugural committee. The socialist politician is controversial, and Mets fans are wondering if this has to do with all the drama in the locker room. Rumors are that Nimmo and Lindor failed to see eye to eye when it came to politics.

You get a feeling that something must be done for the Mets to succeed. Lindor is paid well, but the team is committed to Juan Soto. When push comes to shove, the Mets will move away from Lindor to satisfy Juan Soto. Baseball is a business, and Juan Soto is the New York Mets. Like it or not. The investment in him will be protected.

So, where do the Padres fit in all this?

Well, we already know that A.J. Preller has shown some interest in Lindor. The past off-season saw several rumors of the Padres attempting to obtain Lindor. We know that Francisco Lindor likes the West Coast. Rumors were that the Dodgers and Padres were deeply involved in signing the infielder before he extended with the Mets. A move to the laid-back Padres would probably do Lindor wonders. The microscope of the Big Apple may be wearing on the shortstop.

The San Diego Padres are spinning their wheels as well in terms of making traction on the 2026 season.

The Padres are not in dire need. However, after a sweep by the Cubs this week and a brutal loss to the Dodgers, San Diegans are left questioning themselves about the future of this club.

A big splash with the Mets involving Francisco Lindor makes sense. If the Padres can move the contract of Xander Bogaerts at the same time, it is a win-win situation for the Friars. Bogaerts may be lacking with the bat, but he brings a steady clubhouse presence and is someone who played with Juan Soto with no issues. For New York, he may be a perfect fit for the volatile clubhouse.

There is no doubt the Padres would need to upgrade New York as Lindor is simply the better player at this point in his career.

The two are due about the same amount of money, but Lindor is under team control for two fewer seasons after this year. San Diego has a decent prospect hoard (don’t listen to what the “experts” say) and is certainly not afraid to deal from it. The Padres also possess several young reliever-type pitchers (David Morgan, Bradgley Rodriguez, etc.) who could be of interest to the Mets. The Padres could easily upgrade the Mets.

Let’s examine this idea more and look at how this deal may make sense for both sides.

Why Francisco Lindor makes sense for the Padres

Obviously, Lindor would be an upgrade offensively for the Padres.

The switch-hitter comes with real power and the ability to carry a team when he gets hot with the bat. Lindor is 32, but there is no reason not to think he will not be productive for the next several seasons. With five+ years on his contract, there is a higher possibility that he justifies his $34.1 million contract each season.

There are some clubhouse concerns with Lindor, but San Diego should not worry about him fitting in, as his personality is like that of Fernando Tatis Jr. and Manny Machado. Lindor would slide into the middle of the batting order and provide offensive depth to the lineup. He should not have an issue hitting at Petco Park, though his power numbers may decrease slightly.

Acquiring Lindor at the expense of Bogaerts’ contract would be excellent for the Padres, but it isn’t that easy.

San Diego would need to pay up. There is no doubt.

There are no trade clauses to discuss, but Lindor would likely welcome a trip to San Diego. Would Bogaerts welcome a trade back east? That all remains to be seen.

New York is in no hurry to move Lindor, so for the Padres, they would need to entice the Mets.

Why Xander Bogaerts makes sense for the Mets

Chemistry is a key to success in MLB.

Xander Bogaerts solidifies the Mets’ clubhouse, and that is probably goal number one right now.

Bogaerts is highly respected in the clubhouse, and the veteran has already experienced the Juan Soto vibe for a year and a half. The Mets’ focus is on harmony, and though Bogaerts is a downgrade with the bat, New York has the money to upgrade elsewhere within the lineup. Bo Bichette could slide over to shortstop if needed, and New York may be able to utilize Bogaerts at third base. There will be options for the team at the position.

Let’s be clear, the Padres will need to upgrade the Mets. Prospects are enticing, but you get a sense that New York will want major league-caliber talent. Hoarding new young talent would be a great thing for the Mets, who will need to save a buck when they can. There are former Padres prospects sprinkled all over the league. Why not with the Mets?

Mason Miller is a huge overpay. The Mets will ask, but that would require more than Lindor. It is an interesting thing to think about, but it gets very complicated when you talk about both shortstops and Miller being traded. San Diego would require a ton of pitching in return, and New York may not be willing to hear names like Nolan McLean even being mentioned.

For the time being, the two sides should focus on San Diego upgrading the Mets for the shortstop exchange.

The verdict

There is some merit to this, but this would need to be facilitated by the Mets.

The Padres take some flak for a weak farm system, but there are still men within it that hold value. Kruz Schoolcraft and Kash Mayfield are both talented lefties with upside. Ethan Salas is shooting up the prospect lists once again after a down season. There are also several players burgeoning seemingly out of nowhere, like Alex McCoy and Ryan Wideman.

The Padres can upgrade New York sufficiently. It is just a matter of taste.

There is some smoke to this possible trade scenario. The Padres and Mets have discussed this idea. To what extent? We aren’t sure, but both teams have the financial stability to pull off a creative trade. Preller and the Padres are not complacent. They will make moves this coming month. Is Francisco Lindor really a possibility for the Padres?

Are the Mets willing to re-shuffle the roster in an attempt to create harmony? Only time will tell.

James Clark

James was born and raised in America’s Finest City. He is a passionate baseball fan with even more passion towards his hometown Padres. James has written about the Padres and their prospects for over a decade. He also writes about San Diego State as well as other local sports. James is the Editor-In-Chief of EastVillageTimes.com. Always striving to bring you the highest quality in San Diego Sports News. Original content, with original ideas, that’s our motto. Enjoy.