Report: Mets refused trading pair of top-5 prospects to Pirates for Marte

The New York Mets couldn't meet the Pittsburgh Pirates' asking price for outfielder Starling Marte, who is now a member of the Arizona Diamondbacks after a three-player trade Monday.

Pittsburgh wanted two of the top-five prospects in the Mets' minor-league system, according to Jon Heyman of MLB Network, who adds the demand was too steep for New York.

The names of the minor leaguers weren't reported. However, shortstops Ronny Mauricio and Andres Gimenez, third baseman Brett Baty, right-hander Matthew Allan, and catcher Francisco Alvarez comprised the Mets' top-five prospects in 2019, according to MLB Pipeline.

The top-30 Pirates prospects, according to MLB Pipeline, don't include any catchers and the club missed out on the chance to add one in a Marte deal, notes Stephen J. Nesbitt of The Athletic.

New York and Pittsburgh were reportedly involved in on-and-off trade talks surrounding Marte since late November.