One potential big trade chip ahead of Tuesday’s non-waiver trade deadline is now pretty much off the market completely.
Placed on the 10-day disabled list last weekend with hand, foot and mouth disease (really), New York Mets starter Noah Syndergaard will not return to the active roster until Wednesday. That’s one day after the July 31 MLB trade deadline.
Mets’ rotation for the Nationals series is Steven Matz Tuesday, Noah Syndergaard Wednesday.
That order keeps Matz on a normal five-day schedule and separates the two lefties, Matz and Vargas.
— Tim Healey (@timbhealey) July 28, 2018
Certainly, teams could still check in on Syndergaard between now and then. But he’s been an injury-prone enigma over the years. This latest illness being the most ridiculous of them all.
From a Mets perspective, they’d like to see Syndergaard remain healthy and pitch well for the remainder of the year. That will enable the team to potentially move him during the winter. Generally speaking, teams are more willing to give up MLB-level talent in trades during the offseason. That’s what the Mets are said to be seeking in return for Syndergaard.
Though, there’s also a chance that the 25-year-old starter could be moved prior to the waiver trade deadline in late August.
Syndergaard is pitching to a 6-1 record with a 2.89 ERA and 1.25 WHIP on the season. He’s started a grand total of 20 games since Opening Day of 2017.