Collins will need to find others to replace Byrd's production if he's traded

On Friday, Terry Collins spoke to reporters about Marlon Byrd and his great production, and added that if Byrd is traded before the trade deadline on July 31, the team would need to find production from other players on the roster. 

"If there's moves made before the end of the season, whenever that might be, I certainly think [if] you're taking one of our better bats out of the lineup, someone really has to step up, and again, you point your fingers only in a couple of directions." Collins explained. "We're not going to ask Juan Lagares all of a sudden to be the run-producer that Marlon Byrd is, or even Kirk Nieuwenhuis. We're going to look at those that have had major-league experience before, those guys that when we started March 1, there were expectations for them to be run producers."

Collins also said that he does not want the team to trade Marlon Byrd. 

"Hopefully Marlon is still here, but if he's not, then someone else has to pick it up." Collins said. 

Byrd is currently hitting .270 with 16 home runs and 54 RBI in 80 games with the Mets this season.

I've said this before and I will continue to say it: the team HAS to trade Marlon Byrd. They picked him up on a minor league deal, so he was a low risk investment, and he has played extremely well. They need to cash in and get a nice prospect for him sometime this month. Teams always overpay for outfielders, and bench players, so the Mets would likely get a good offer for Byrd. 

Obviously if the team trades Byrd, that leaves a big hole in the lineup. Collins is right, it would be unfair to ask someone like Lagares or Nieuwenhuis to replace Byrd's production. When Collins talked about players who have had major league experience, he is talking about Ike Davis and Lucas Duda. Both will need to step up big time if Byrd is dealt, even if it is a lost season.