Mets Trade Rumors: Add the Red Sox to Zack Wheeler’s list of suitors

New York Mets trade rumors are heating up and the Boston Red Sox have shown interest in a deal for starting pitcher Zack Wheeler.

The trade deadline season is in full bloom. After the All-Star Game is over, expect plenty more whispers about who goes where. According to the recent New York Mets trade rumors involving pitcher Zack Wheeler, the Boston Red Sox are now suitors.

According to Joel Sherman of the New York Post, the Mets and Red Sox have reached the preliminary stages of a possible deal. Hoping to bolster the rotation, the Red Sox have their eye on Wheeler.

Depending on how highly the Red Sox regard Wheeler could benefit the Mets. If you’ve read other Mets trade rumors, you already know the New York Yankees have long been interested in him. Can you say “bidding war?”

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The 2019 season has been a rough one for the Red Sox. After basically ignoring the bullpen, their second-half plan could include moving last year’s World Series hero Nathan Eovaldi to the bullpen. Perhaps they view Wheeler as this year’s savior the same way Eovaldi surpassed expectations in their 2018 run.

Despite some mediocre numbers in the first half of 2019, Wheeler is quickly becoming one of the most sought-after starters this month. He doesn’t have the track record of someone like Madison Bumgarner or the year of control Marcus Stroman has. Wheeler does have talent and there are teams out there who may believe a change of scenery could benefit him.

The unfortunate fact about Wheeler’s career is how much time he missed. He wasn’t there for the 2015 run or the one-game trip to the postseason in 2016. Wheeler’s time with the Mets has included nothing but losing seasons.

Yet his name remains at the top of all Mets trade rumors this summer.

Despite a willingness to trade other players on expiring contracts, Wheeler is the lone name showing up in Mets trade rumors. Understandably so, his salary is less than Todd Frazier and Jason Vargas. Plus, even with each of them producing well this year, there are question marks about how they could hold up for the remainder of the year. Those two are more additional pieces than potential star players a team can hope carries them to the postseason and through it.

The Mets and Red Sox aren’t strangers when it comes to deadline deals. Back in 2017, they sent reliever Addison Reed to Beantown for three prospects. This time around, I would hope the Mets go with quality over quantity. Outfielder Jarren Duran, who ranks ninth in their system according to MLB.com, would be my top choice as far as reasonable targets go. The seventh-round pick from 2018 his .387 in 199 at-bats in Single-A this year and has already received a promotion to Double-A.

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Maybe it’s his left-handed stick and similar first name to Jarred Kelenic which has me wishing and hoping the Mets have any chance at landing this kid. Whether it’s him or someone else, don’t expect the Red Sox to let Wheeler slip to the Yankees so easily.