ATLANTA — There’s the world that you want and the world that actually exists, so consider this a nod to the latter. Because the obvious call for the Mets is to just write a nice-sized check to Dallas Keuchel on a one-year deal, use the veteran left-hander as their fifth starting pitcher as soon as he’s ready and wish Jason Vargas well in his future endeavors, none of which will include pitching for them.
Rarely does it turn out that elementary with the Mets, right? Hence this alternative:
Turn Vargas or Todd Frazier into Bronson Arroyo.
Trade a prospect — say, shortstop Ronny Mauricio or left-hander David Peterson — to a club willing to assume the remaining contract of the awful Vargas (a little more than $9 million) or the rehabilitating Frazier (a little more than $8 million).