In one fell swoop, Buster Olney of ESPN ($) brought the New York Mets back to the front burner of the hot stove as Major League Baseball’s winter meetings are set to kick off on Sunday.
Olney reports that the New York Mets would “absolutely” trade frontline starting pitcher Noah Syndergaard if the right offer was on the table.
The San Diego Padres and their top-rated farm system have been heavily linked to the 26-year-old right-hander, with the Rockies and Reds also being mentioned as potentially interested parties by Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic ($).
Syndergaard has a 37-22 record with a 2.93 earned-run average, 1.132 WHIP, a 4.94 strikeouts-to-walks ratio, and 2.66 fielding independent pitching rating over 86 career starts (87 appearances).
After missing nearly all of the 2017 season with a torn lateral muscle, the Texas native returned last season to go 13-4 with a 3.03 ERA, 155 strikeouts, 39 walks, a 2.80 FIP rating, and a 3.97 strikeouts-to-walks ratio despite making trips to the disabled list (strained finger ligament, May 29 to July 13; Hand, foot, and mouth disease, July 23 to August 1).
Olney also notes that the Mets are “all in” on the catching market, which includes free agents Yasmani Grandal, Wilson Ramos, Martin Maldonado, and Jonathan Lucroy, as well as Marlins backstop J.T. Realmuto via trade.
The asking price on the 27-year-old Realmuto has reportedly been set on one of either Amed Rosario or Brandon Nimmo, as well as prospects.
A deal of that magnitude could very well be counterintuitive to what Brodie Van Wagenen and this new regime are trying to accomplish this offseason, leaving the open market a more than viable option for the Mets.
With the winter meetings beginning on Sunday in Las Vegas, we’re sure to see these rumors develop in some capacity. We’ll keep you posted as new information becomes available.
