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

The trade deadline is approaching quickly. Riding alongside it is the New York Mets trade rumors season.

Former Mets general manager Jim Duquette knows a thing or two about trades. Having executed plenty himself, he recently weighed in on five starting pitchers the Mets could target this summer.

Knowing Noah Syndergaard won’t be ready until at least September and no clear timetable for Carlos Carrasco to finally make his debut, Mets trade rumors involving starting pitchers are going to highlight this July. Who does Duquette think the Mets could add? Let’s get right into it and look at how realistic any of these options are.

Will this be the summer of Mets trade rumors involving Max Scherzer?

I feel it’s obligatory for every competing site here on FanSided to write about something about Max Scherzer and their team. Hall of Fame-bound on a bad team playing in the final year of his contract, he’s the guy every fan base knows and desires. Even if he is just a fraction of the pitcher he was (which he isn’t) he would be worth a look.

In the case of the Mets, it’s hard to see anything actually getting done to acquire Scherzer. He is a member of the Washington Nationals, after all. These two teams don’t do business often. When they do, it’s not typically a trade of this much significance.

Duquette and I are in agreement on Scherzer. As he said, “I don’t think Mike Rizzo, their GM, will trade him within the division, even though he’ll be a free agent.”

Scherzer isn’t Kelly Johnson or any other number of trade deadline acquisitions the Mets have landed at the deadline from a division rival. He’s a polarizing starting pitcher and a guy the Nationals don’t want to see celebrate winning a World Series at Citi Field.

What’s more, think of the cost! Even as a rental, Scherzer is going to require the Mets to give up some huge assets.

A recent injury of his own might slow down any rumors. However, with the trade deadline still a month and a half away, I expect them to pick right back up again.

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.