According to an industry source, the New York Mets have recently reached out to the Cincinnati Reds inquiring about a potential trade for right-handed starter Sonny Gray and third baseman Eugenio Suarez.
With rotation help still on the team’s docket and the Mets presumably on the lookout for a potential upgrade at third base, both players would respectively check those boxes.
Gray, 31, has experienced a rebirth in Cincinnati. Following an explosive welcome to The Show in Oakland and then an unfruitful stay in The Bronx, Gray’s pitched to a 3.07 ERA (3.33 FIP) with 277 strikeouts, 94 walks, 1.12 WHIP, and 6.0 fWAR with the Reds.
Suarez, 29, has been an offensive force in recent years. Despite a statistically subpar 2020 (.202/.312/.470, 104 wRC+ in 57 games), since the start of 2017, the Venezuelan product has hit .264/.358/.515 with 124 home runs, 125 wRC+, and 13.4 fWAR.
Gray is under contract through 2022 ($12 million 2023 team option) with $20.2 million still owed. Suarez is locked in through 2024 at an extremely reasonable $43.5 million total over that span.
What it might take in a return to land these guys is unknown at this point. Truthfully, it all depends on Cincinatti’s needs and inclination to make the move. One can assume these two won’t come cheap.
We will keep you posted as new information becomes available.
