The Mets want to contend every year, but they're not going to this year. Verlander is old, a figurative time bomb, with a year left on contract--thus the negative value. Still, he has value down the stretch. Parada is a top-notch catching prospect, but he's years away--he's supposed to be ready by 2025, and his bat might be, but his glove won't be until 2026/27. In return for those two and a bit of cash to keep the Red Sox below the CBT threshold, the Mets get Top 100 prospect Rafaela, ready now. He's batting .299/.340/.598 in AAA, and he's a Gold Glove-caliber defender in CF who can play any position except 1B/C/P in a pinch. Bryan Mata is still coming back from a couple of minor injuries this season, but in 2022 he was 7-3 with a 2.49 ERA at four levels from A through AAA, performing better at AA/AAA. Mata is probably Boston's best pitching prospect, but he's higher risk because of the injuries, as reflected in his value. Abreu will be a good 4th outfielder with good strike zone discipline next season, and Dalbec, "Free" in the calculus, is leading the AAA IL in HR--who knows? Boston looks set in the OF in 2023, so this helps them get to the playoffs. From 2024/25 the Mets clearly win. By 2026, it depends upon whether Parada matures into a good starting catcher. But the Mets get six years of Rafaela--he might be what they need to win.