As prized acquisitions flounder, Mets may rue the day they traded Jared Kelenic and Justin Dunn

CLEVELAND — It may not (yet) be as bad as when the New York Mets traded Nolan Ryan for Jim Fregosi in 1971, but the offseason blockbuster trade with the Seattle Mariners looks worse with each passing day and could someday be remembered as an all-time blunder for the franchise.

While former All-Star second baseman Robinson Cano and closer Edwin Diaz flounder for the Mets, the two prospects that were shipped to Seattle are thriving, both featuring in Monday’s showcase Futures Game at Progressive Field.

Of course, we're just seven months removed from the trade and a deal like this will take years to accurately evaluate. 

“It’s too early to tell," said Mariners prospect Justin Dunn, who was part of the deal. "Shoot, if Robbie Cano does what Robbie usually does and doesn’t get hurt a couple times, nobody’s talking about this. If Diaz is dominating, nobody is talking about this.”

Dunn, a 23-year-old righty, was the Mets’ first round pick in 2016 and had enjoyed a breakout season before being dealt to Seattle. He’s now averaging 11.5 strikeouts per nine innings with the Mariners’ Class AA affiliate and pitched a clean inning in Monday's game.

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Outfielder Jared Kelenic was the biggest prize for the Mariners in the deal, managing to acquire the 19-year-old just six months after the Mets had selected him sixth overall in the draft.

Kelenic, who didn’t play above rookie ball in 2018, hit .309 with a .981 OPS in 50 games with Seattle’s Class A affiliate this season before earning a promotion to high-A. He has 15 home runs and 41 RBI across the two levels this season.

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Meanwhile, Cano has been a non-factor in Queens. The 36-year-old is batting .240 with just four home runs and 18 RBI in 242 at-bats, though he has dealt with injuries. The Mets are on the hook for nearly $100 million on his contract that runs through 2023.

Diaz, the young flamethrower the Mets hoped to build their bullpen around, has a 5.50 ERA, four blown saves and six losses, having given up more runs in 34 ⅓ innings than he did in all of 2018. 

As the Mets fall further and further from contention, tensions have mounted with the front office and coaching staff.

It’s a tough spot to be in for Kelenic and Dunn, who may always be tied to their inclusion in the trade that has been so disastrous for one side so far.

“I try to stay out of it. I was with the Mets and now I’m not anymore,” Kelenic told USA TODAY Sports. “I’m focusing on where I’m at and it’s a shame it’s not going the way (the Mets) wanted it to.

“They were the team that made my dream come true and I’ll never forget”

The trade was even harder for Dunn, a Long Island native who grew up just a short drive from Citi Field. He dreamed of the day he would get to play regularly in front of family and friends.

“I had to do my job to help that big-league team win, and at that time it was being traded for one of the best second baseman to ever play the game and one of the best closers in the game,” Dunn told USA TODAY Sports.

He is quick not to forget about his former teammates.

He's happy to see some of them thriving, though he admits it's "a little bittersweet." Two of his Class AA teammates last season – Jeff McNeil and Pete Alonso – are big-league All-Stars for the Mets this year.

"When they do well, they hear from me," Dunn said.