The Mets have had trade talks with the Cincinnati Reds about pitcher Tyler Mahle, according to MMO’s own Michael Mayer. Buster Olney reported earlier Friday the Mets have been “active” in the trade market in terms of connecting with opposing teams.
Mahle, 27, has pitched incredibly well the last two seasons for Cincinnati (3.72 ERA, 3.82 FIP) over 227 2/3 innings. He has two more years of team control and is projected to make around $5.5 million this season, according to Spotrac. He’s one of multiple Reds pitchers who’ve reportedly been in trade talks since the 2021 trade deadline. Luis Castillo and Sonny Gray have also been discussed in trades across the league.
MMO’s Nate Mendelson wrote about Mahle as a trade target in January. On Mahle’s durability and potential, he said:
Mahle should be entering into the best years of his career with limited miles on his arm. He has a minimal injury history and has shown he is reliable to start every five days.
Mendelson also predicted his trade package to be lighter than that of someone like Jose Berrios, who was traded by the Twins for two top 100 prospects. (They also got an extra half-season out of him than a team would with Mahle.)
If the Mets made any sort of trade with the Reds for one of their pitchers, Dominic Smith, Jeff McNeil or J.D. Davis would likely be involved.
