The New York Mets decided not to trade with the San Diego Padres who reportedly sent first baseman Eric Hosmer and pitcher Chris Paddack to New York, reports Joel Sherman of New York Post. SNY’s Andy Martino says the Padres wanted to trade, but ultimately the Mets decided to go through.

Here are the full details of the failed transaction:

Hosmer has four years and $59 million remaining on his contract, so the Padres were willing to pay a significant portion of it to facilitate the trade. There were rumors that the Mets would trade Hosmer elsewhere, although his contract gave him a full no-trade clause after the first time he was traded, which would have complicated matters.

Hosmer, 32, spent four seasons with the Padres, and it’s been rumored for some time that San Diego would be interested in losing his salary. As Sherman notes, adding Hosmer and his entire remaining contract — before it was known the Padres would donate any money — would have made the 2022 Mets the first team in league history. MLB to manage a payroll of $300 million or more. . The trade would also have landed the Mets in the new top tier of luxury tax penalties, which are part of the new collective bargaining agreement and appear designed to curb spending by Mets owner Steve Cohen.

Hosmer with the Padres put up a 102 OPS+, which is slightly below average production for a first baseman. Hosmer’s adjustment with the Mets wouldn’t have been seamless, as they already have Pete Alonso at first base. Robinson Canó – a left-handed hitter, like Hosmer – is on his way to being the main DH. On the other hand, Canó is 39 and missed all of last season after testing positive for a banned substance, and it’s theoretically possible the Mets have doubts about his ability to produce adequately at this point in time. his career. Really, though, the Mets would have taken Hosmer and his contract primarily as a way to get rotational help at Paddack.

As for Paddack, the 26-year-old has impressive tricks and solid command and control results. In contrast, injuries were a concern and he was only average in terms of preventing runs. The Mets’ interest in Paddack clearly had a lot to do with ace Jacob deGrom’s latest injury issues (a stress reaction in his shoulder blade), which will cost him a significant chunk of the 2022 season.

On the Padres side, Smith would have replaced Hosmer’s left-handed bat in the lineup and could also have played an outside corner on occasion. With the bat, Smith has struggled in 2021. Entering his campaign at 27, Smith has a career OPS+ of 104.