NY Mets: Top 3 starting pitcher trade candidates from MLB Trade Rumors top 40 list

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.

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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.