On Tuesday, Andy Martino of the Daily News asked Arizona’s GM Dave Stewart for his take on Jon Niese, Dillon Gee, or Bartolo Colon, who the Mets would prefer to move in a deal for one of the Diamondbacks shortstops.
“We don’t have any interest in those kind of guys,” Stewart told the News. “If we’re going to get something back for Didi Gregorius or Chris Owings, it’s going to be young, controllable pitching. Guys that aren’t making any money right now, who have a chance to grow within our organization.”
That’s pretty much what I speculated yesterday, but wow, talk about being blunt….
Stewart is looking at Noah Syndergaard, Zack Wheeler and Jacob deGrom, but Martino heard from other rival executives who have contacted the Mets, that those three are as close to untouchable as you can get.
November 11
Jon Heyman of CBS Sports is hearing that the Arizona Diamondbacks are getting a lot of interest in shortstop Didi Gregorius at the GM Meetings.
The Arizona Republic reported that the Arizona’s general manager Dave Stewart wants to add a proven young starter this offseason and seems more open to a trade now.
“I don’t know if we get it accomplished this week,” Stewart said, “but by the time we start the season I’d really like to try to improve our starting rotation.”
“If we can clearly improve our team, then I’m not hesitant to make a trade,” Stewart said. “I don’t know that we will or that we won’t. What I know is that there’s some clubs out there that we’ve had some conversations with that includes pitching, pretty good pitching. It’s a matter of if we can make it happen or not.”
The Diamondbacks have three young shortstops in Chris Owings, Didi Gregorius and Nick Ahmed, however Owings has entrenched himself as part of the core in Arizona and barring a huge overpay he’s not going anywhere.
Some executives believe Gregorius or Ahmed will be dangled for pitching but neither of them will bring back the young, controllable, top-of-the-rotation pitcher Stewart is looking for.
“You’re not getting back Matt Harvey or Jacob deGrom,” said one scout, referencing two top young arms on a New York Mets team that could conceivably use help at shortstop. “But maybe you get back Rafael Montero.”
If they’re looking for a young and proven starter, chances are that neither of Dillon Gee, Bartolo Colon or Jon Niese would interest them.
