The Mets are fighting battles on several fronts this winter, in an attempt to win in 2021 while restocking the agricultural system.
On the last front, the organization added a piece on Wednesday night, acquiring Royals outfielder Khalil Lee in a three-way deal that also included the Red Sox.
In the deal, the Mets handed over (to Boston) pitcher Josh Winckowski, who arrived at the recent exchange that sent Steven Matz to Toronto. The Mets will also hand over a player to be named later to complete the deal. Kansas City acquired Andrew Benintendi from Boston in trade. Franchy Cordero went from Kansas City to Boston.
Lee, 22, was classified as the No. 8 prospect of the Royals by the MLB pipeline. In 2019, he stole 53 bases in Double-A Northwest Arkansas, where he cut 0.264 / 0.363 / 0.372 and played in the center field. He was selected by the Royals in the third round of the 2016 draft of the Flint Hill School in Oakton, Va.
The switch fills a need for Mets, which is scarce in field prospects at the upper levels of the minor leagues. External defender Jarred Kelenic, whom the Mets selected in the first round of the 2018 draft, was traded to the Mariners in the trade that brought Edwin Diaz and Robinson Cano to New York. Last summer, the Mets used their first-round pick at Pete Crow-Armstrong outfielder.
In switching to Matz last month, the Mets acquired secondary league pitchers Sean Reid-Foley and Yennsy Diaz from Toronto, in addition to Winckowski.
The Mets officially announced the signing of Albert Almora Jr. for a one-year contract. To create space on the list of 40 men, Corey Oswalt was assigned to the mission. As soon as the signing of Jonathan Villar becomes official, the Mets will need to open another space in the squad.