NY Mets Trade Rumors: Jim Duquette weighs in on 5 starting pitchers the team could add

Jon Gray makes a little more sense for the Mets

Having spent all of his major league career with the Colorado Rockies, we don’t fully know what Jon Gray can do in a more pitcher-friendly atmosphere. He has averaged a little more than a run per every other inning in his career. His presence within Mets trade rumors won’t get too many casual fans thrilled.

Despite having to pitch at Coors Field half of the time, Gray will be one of this year’s more coveted trade deadline pieces. The Rockies are going nowhere. With Gray headed to free agency this winter, it’s essential they move him for anything at all.

Gray won’t cost anywhere near what Scherzer would and one could argue the cost goes down simply by looking at what he has produced throughout his career. Coming off a poor 2020 campaign and a year that has been about average thus far in 2021, Gray’s a guy just about any team could afford.

I like Gray but I’m not “in like” with him. His career FIP a few points under 4.00 does suggest he’d be better with a team like the Mets. I’d like to see it happen.

Since the Rockies appear headed toward a full rebuild, maybe the only thing the Mets need to surrender in this deal are low-level prospects.

Buying Kyle Gibson at the peak of his career

Kyle Gibson is 33 yet well on his way to having a career year with the Texas Rangers. His ERA sits at 2.13 after 12 starts. Undefeated on one of the league’s worst teams, he’s a guy that will get shopped heavily this summer. Will we see him appear in the many Mets trade rumors expected?

You probably know Gibson best from his seven seasons with the Minnesota Twins. While there, he was 67-68 with a 4.52 ERA. In other words, he was very average.

Last season was unkind to him in Texas. Fortunately, he has turned things around this year. Gibson has another year of control available beyond this one which could help or hurt his case to get traded to New York. Depending on what the front office plans to do with the rotation next year, Gibson could be a nice “hedge” against losing Marcus Stroman and/or Noah Syndergaard.

Gibson will land on many team’s radars because of how excellent he has been in 2021. I do think someone may end up overpaying because of the second year of control. A team with a little less pitching depth than the Mets (hey, we still have three big arms) could benefit a lot more than the ball club over in Flushing.

I wouldn’t pay much at all to acquire Gibson because of his lengthy track record. The same way we don’t buy into hitters who had atypical 2019 campaigns, I’m wary of committing to a guy who has looked significantly better on the mound through the first two and a half months of 2021.

Worth a look, for me, it all comes down to how much the Rangers actually want.

Michael Pineda would fit the bill as another former Yankees arm

Yet another former member of the New York Yankees for the Mets to consider, Michael Pineda is currently with the Minnesota Twins and pitching well. At 32 and headed to free agency this winter, he’s nothing more than a rental for this organization.

I feel Pineda’s name will be attached closely to Mets trade rumors this winter because of his already existing connection to New York. Having pitched in the Bronx for four seasons, he’s a name many people are familiar with already.

Pineda has been much better in Minnesota. His ERA is about 20 points lower. He has been more of a top-of-the-rotation arm than a fifth starter during his time with them.

As Duquette notes, the Twins are unlikely to go anywhere this season. Guys like Pineda on expiring contracts are sure to capture the attention of Zack Scott. Knowing they can move on from him after 2021, it makes sense to call the Twins and see what it will cost.

Amazingly, Pineda has actually never pitched in the postseason despite playing for some good teams. This would have been an added bonus in my dreamy blue eyes. For a spin on this subject, maybe we can just say “he’s hungry for his opportunity.”

Don’t sell the farm for Pineda, but don’t neglect the idea either.

Tyler Anderson is the lone lefty to make this list

Tyler Anderson was pitching well this year for the Pittsburgh Pirates until the Los Angeles Dodgers beat him up. It happens.

Yet another guy headed to free agency after this season is through, he’s a name I do think we’ll see on the Mets’ wishlist. Because he is a lefty and the two worst starters the Mets have had this year also throw from that side, it would make sense for the team to prioritize southpaws.

Anderson might be the cheapest player from Duquette’s list. He might have the weakest career of them all.

The Pirates aren’t in the business of holding onto a guy and hoping for the best offer possible. Instead, I think they would willingly trade Anderson to the Mets for a minor league lottery ticket.

In Anderson’s case, he might even be a guy the Mets could acquire sooner than later. If I was the general manager in Pittsburgh, I wouldn’t hesitate to deal a guy like him. Why hold out for a better offer closer to the end of July and risk someone losing value? Anderson doesn’t have the same pedigree as some other names expected to become available. The moment a trade offer of any significance comes along, pull the trigger.

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Weeks ago, I was not expecting this to become the summer of Mets trade rumors revolving around starting pitching. Injuries and poor performances have changed things. Expect these names, and more, to appear on your social media feed plenty this summer.