McAdam: Could Mets again be Red Sox' trade partners?

A year ago, the Red Sox filled their most pressing need by swinging a deal with the New York Mets, obtaining reliever Addison Reed in exchange for three pitching prospects from the lower minors.

Reed pitched well for the Sox, appearing in 29 games with a 3.33 ERA and providing them with an experienced high-leverage arm before leaving for a multi-year deal last winter with the Minnesota Twins.

Now, with the Sox again in the market for bullpen reinforcements, the Mets might again represent a good match for the Sox in trade discussions. Already, there's enough interest expressed that the Mets have instructed some scouts to follow some of the Sox' affiliates to compile some names of would-be targets should talks advance closer to the trade deadline.

The Mets, in the middle of a disastrous season, are open for business on the trade front, with plenty to offer. The big attraction will be a trio of starters -- Jacob deGrom, Noah Syndergaard and Zack Wheeler. deGrom and Syndergaard will fetch huge packages, and the Sox aren't nearly positioned to bid for either. Even Wheeler, a back-end starter with a long history of injuries, may be too expensive a target for the Sox, whose rotation has been a strength much of the year.

But the Mets have relievers to deal, too. Closer Jeurys Familia, 28, is available and so too is lefty Jerry Blevins, 34.

The Sox are set at the closer's spot, but Familia could be a nice option in the eighth inning for the Sox. According to a source familiar with the Mets' thinking, there is already extensive interest in Familia, which will only drive up the asking price. Familia, who is headed for free agency, has a 4-4 record and a 3.11 ERA with 16 saves in 20 opportunities.

Some relievers have a difficult time going from closing to eighth-inning responsibilities -- Eric Gagne, obtained by the Red Sox at the deadline in 2007 is but one obvious example -- but Familia served as set-up man Jenrry Mejia in 2014, so that shouldn't be an issue.

Another potential matchup could be Blevins, who has been a disappointment for the Mets in 2018. Blevins had been a durable and dependable lefty for the Mets in 2016 and 2017, appearing in 148 games over two seasons and compiling an ERA of 2.87. But this season, he's struggled with his control -- averaging 5.2 walks per nine innings -- and has compiled a 4.43 ERA in 36 games.

He's been more effective of late, however, having been scored upon just once in his last eight appearances, during which he's pitched to a 2.57 ERA. If he continues to trend upward, he could be a useful veteran lefty for the Sox in the late innings, who might be convinced that a change of scenery and the adrenaline of pitching for a contender could result in better effectiveness.

The Sox have gone most of this season without a veteran lefty in their bullpen, often using Joe Kelly as their matchup guy for tough lefthanded hitters. It's possible that the Sox could utilize Drew Pomeranz in relief when he returns to the roster. Pomeranz won 17 games as a starter last season, but over his career, has enjoyed success in the bullpen, where his fastball plays up in shorter stints.

Boston's minor league system has been thinned out by a host of deals over the last three years, along with the graduations from the minors to the big leagues of Andrew Benintendi and Rafael Devers.

Finding a suitable package of prospects to make a deal with the Mets could be an issue, though less so with Blevins, whose value has been reduced.

"There's not a lot there,'' said one N.L. talent evaluator. "A lot of those guys at (Single-A) Salem have been disappointing this season and that's hurt them.''

From a financial standpoint, neither Familia nor Blevins would be cost-prohibitive. Familia is earning $7.925 million, which translates to about $2.6 million at the deadline. Blevins, meanwhile, is making $6.5 million, which would mean about $2.2 million for the final third of the season.

The Mets are eager to move as much salary as possible, so it's unlikely that they would take any money back in a deal involving either pitcher. The Red Sox are focused on attempting to stay under the final luxury tax threshold of $237 million -- at which point they would incur additional tax penalties, along with losing 10 spots in next June's amateur draft.

The Sox have stated their "preference'' is to stay under the final threshold, but have signaled a willingness to go over for the right roster addition.

However, in obtaining Steve Pearce from the Blue Jays last month, the Sox insisted that the Jays take just over half of Pearce's remaining salary to give themselves some wiggle room toward another deadline acquisition. By most estimates, the Sox are currently approximately $3 million under the $237 threshold, allowing them to one more move without incurring further penalties.