As trade season kicks into high gear around the majors with contenders competing for every resource available, it appears two of the biggest names may no longer be available.
New York Mets starting pitchers Noah Syndergaard and Jacob deGrom have been two of the most coveted trade targets this season. Both are front-line starters under contract control for multiple seasons, making them ideal targets for all teams.
According to Andy Martino of SportsNet New York, New York has now moved past the idea of trading either of its two aces. Instead, the front office has turned its efforts to trading either Steven Matz or Zack Wheeler.
According to the report, the Mets are increasingly reluctant to move deGrom given how well he has pitched this season. In 17 starts this season, the 30-year-old has a 1.84 ERA, 1.02 WHIP and 134 strikeouts. However, a lack of run support has left him with a 5-4 record.
As for Syndergaard, he has made just 18 starts since the start of the 2017 season due to numerous injuries to his throwing arm. As a result, the potential return in any trade before the deadline would be limited.
If deGrom and Syndergaard are off the board, the New York Yankees could still talk to their crosstown rivals about Matz. The 27-year-old southpaw has a 3.46 ERA and 1.22 WHIP this season and is arbitration eligible for the next three seasons.
While Matz and Wheeler don’t come within proximity of their fellow starters, they should still attract plenty of interest this July from teams in need of pitching.