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NY Mets: Top 3 starting pitcher trade candidates from MLB Trade Rumors top 40 list
Following up on our recent post of the top three relief pitcher trade candidates for the New York Mets is this new list covering a different part of the roster. Starting pitching shouldn’t have been a problem for the Mets this year. However, an abundance of injuries and setbacks have put them in a position to possibly buy starters at this year’s deadline.
MLB Trade Rumors recently published a list of the top 40 trade candidates which is both the basis and inspiration for this article. I’m not going to call MLBTRs my muse, but it’s definitely always open on my laptop and computer for all things baseball-related.
Considering the Mets could have some starting pitching help coming whenever Carlos Carrasco and Noah Syndergaard are healthy (holds breath), there are certain starters from this list to dismiss. However, there are other options we could add to the list as a little more realistic for what this team may need in 2021.
NY Mets starting pitcher trade candidate John Means
John Means was actually someone the Mets considering acquiring this offseason. In which case, he might be a nearly perfect addition for them at this year’s trade deadline.
Most known for tossing a no-hitter earlier in the season, Means is a 28-year-old having a terrific season for the Baltimore Orioles. As a lefty, he could help fill a void for the Mets. Between David Peterson and Joey Lucchesi, there are more question marks than the Riddler’s outfit from the old Adam West version of Batman.
The Mets can survive this year without a lefty starter. It’s a little overrated. For years, the Los Angeles Dodgers won a whole bunch of games with a rotation consisting of mostly lefties. Talent far exceeds anything else in this game.
The number of suitors Means will have this summer should be in abundance. Relatively young in the baseball world with years of control left and a cheap salary, he’s a “go for broke” type of addition for the Mets to consider.
MLB Trade Rumors lists Means as the number 34 best trade candidate as of early July. I suspect he isn’t higher because of how unnecessary it would be for the Orioles to trade him for less than they want.
NY Mets starting pitcher trade deadline target Danny Duffy
Danny Duffy is at a much different chapter of his MLB career than Means. Now in his 11th season with the Kansas City Royals, Duffy is headed to free agency after this season. On a Royals squad playing better than expected but probably headed toward Sellersville by the end of July, he’s the number 39 player on MLB Trade Rumors’ list of the top 40 trade candidates.
Prior to his recent IL stint, Duffy was 4-3 after 7 starts with a magnificent 1.94 ERA. He’s striking out batters at a career-best rate and not walking many either.
At 32 this year, Duffy is actually younger than I would have guessed. He’s a pure rental option for the Mets and a guy who would provide the Royals with a bit of salary relief. You may recall Duffy signing a lucrative deal with the Royals several years ago. This season, your buddy who knows more about football than baseball but insists he’s an expert at both might say his “cap hit” is $15.5 million. It’s really just his salary, by the way.
Duffy is a capable fourth starter but nothing much more than that. Trading for him in 2021 is about hoping he stays hot. With a .500 career record and an ERA a few hairs below .400, he has been mostly average. This year, if the Mets were to acquire him, I could even see him becoming a left-handed threat out of the bullpen later on if everyone gets healthy.
NY Mets starting pitcher trade deadline target Michael Pineda
Michael Pineda was using foreign substances on the mound before it went in vogue. The former New York Yankees pitcher has spent the last three years with the Minnesota Twins where he has actually done quite well. Limited in action because of last year’s shortened season, Pineda still has favorable numbers in Minnesota. After 40 starts, this includes a 16-8 record and 3.80 ERA.
Yet another rental option for the Mets to consider, he’s a $10 million player performing about exactly where you might expect. This season has been another fine one for the veteran righty, going 3-3 with a 3.40 ERA through 9 starts.
I can already hear some Mets fans groaning at the idea of bringing in another ex-New York Yankees player. Let’s not get too hung up on that. He hasn’t pitched for them since 2017 and he has actually been better with Minnesota.
The number 15 best trade candidate of MLB Trade Rumors’ top 40, Pineda is someone that will definitely get moved unless the Twins get their act together. They are one of the season’s biggest underperformers. Will the Mets come calling?
There is no real urgency for the Mets to swing a big move like any of these just yet. However, I also don’t like the idea of them adding another pitcher like Lucchesi because that’s just pouring gasoline on a wound and putting out a fire with salt—it doesn’t make things worse, it just doesn’t help the situation.
Next. Top 3 relief pitcher trade candidates for the Mets
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Lengthy absences from Carrasco and Syndergaard should have the Mets on alert as to what they can do to have the best rotation possible after July. A trade for any of these starting pitchers could help them accomplish this. As we’ve already told ourselves dozens of times already this season, you can never have enough starting pitching.