While the Mets have no intention of trading any of their top pitchers this offseason, one starter they’ll consider dealing is Jon Niese if something interesting were to materialize. Assistant GM John Ricco told reporters that they are open to trading the veteran lefty, even though they are not currently shopping him.
“We haven’t been actively shopping Niese, but other than the four guys [Harvey, deGrom, Syndergaard and Matz], we’re going to be looking for ways to improve the team,” Ricco said. “If there’s a deal that involves him and makes us better, I think we would definitely consider it.” (Adam Rubin, ESPN NY)
Niese, 29, posted a 4.13 ERA this season with a 4.41 FIP in 176 innings pitched. He also had a 1.36 WHIP, 5.8 K/9 and 2.8 BB/9 in what was his eighth season in the majors. Given the team’s depth at starting pitcher, he appears to be expendable and may have some trade value to other teams who are looking for pitchers to fill out their rotations.
Ricco named two options the Mets could use to replace Niese if he’s dealt, at least until until Zack Wheeler returns mid-season. Right-hander Rafael Montero is one possibility while lefty Sean Gilmartin is another.
“We do feel good about where Rafael Montero is health-wise, and I think he’d be a candidate for that,” Ricco said. “But we have other guys that we like. Sean Gilmartin has started in the past, and I think he’s shown he can get major league hitters out. So he’d be another consideration. And then we have some other young pitchers who would be in the mix there.”
It’s great to hear that the Mets still have Montero on their radar after he missed almost all of 2015 due to injury. He pitched just ten MLB innings this year with 13 strikeouts and five runs allowed, but he was highly regarded as a top 100 prospect by MLB Pipeline prior to the 2014 season.
Meanwhile, Gilmartin, 25, rewarded the Mets with an outstanding rookie season that saw him post a 2.67 ERA, 139 ERA+, 2.75 FIP and 1.186 WHIP in 50 appearances in 2015. In 57.1 innings pitched, he struck out 54 batters while walking just 18, and he allowed just two homers all year long.
While he was mainly used as a reliever, he was exclusively a starting pitcher throughout his professional career having started in 79 of his 80 minor league appearances.
