The New York Mets and San Diego Padres are reportedly in trade discussions despite the respective stars of each team being left out of negotiations.

The Mets’ latest signing may have eliminated a key suitor for Willson Contreras, shrinking the Cardinals’ trade market.

The New York Mets need an outfielder and could acquire one in a trade with the San Diego Padres by parting with David Peterson.

What felt like a slow burn early in the offseason has turned into a stretch of blunt force trauma, with decision after decision breaking the wrong way. In the span of a few days, the Mets watched familiar names and targeted solutions land elsewhere, often on deals that revealed just how unforgiving the current market has become.

The Red Sox kept tabs on free agent infielder Jorge Polanco before he agreed to terms with the Mets on Saturday. That pursuit wasn’t a particularly serious one, though.

The New York Mets continue to reshape their roster this winter, and they are now pushed to sign third baseman Alex Bregman.

Overall last season, Polanco spent the bulk of his time at DH, adding 39 games at second, a handful at third and his emergency appearance at first. But with Alonso, who played 160 games at first last season, now in Baltimore, the Mets will currently need Polanco to spend plenty of time at the position.