5 trade candidates to start thinking about amid Max Scherzer injury concerns

2) Another former All-Star pitcher to bolster the Mets' rotation

The Chicago White Sox will soon enter a fire sale due to their position in the standings and recent performance. The disappointment of the White Sox roster on the field will make them reconsider their options, so they should also consider selling their controllable veterans.

Right into this category falls former all-star pitcher Lance Lynn. Unlike Giolito, Lynn has one more year on his contract but in the form of a club option worth $18 million with a buyout of $1 million. While the buyout is reasonable, the club option is high for a team that can go into rebuilding mode.

Lynn is no longer the same pitcher who posted a 2.69 ERA this season in 2021. However, Lynn has been a reliable pitcher throughout his career, with an earned run average of around 3.50 in his 12 years of MLB experience.

This 2023 Lynn has been underperforming mainly due to a more hard-hit contact allowed and an increase in his walks. But according to the expected statistics from Statcast, Lynn has had bad luck, and an improvement adjustment will happen.

Due to his cost and current performance, Lance Lynn may be a candidate who can offer a lot for a relatively low return in a trade with the White Sox. The Mets could greatly benefit from a pitcher of Lynn's experience and arsenal getting into a needy rotation.

3) The Mets could benefit from a veteran pitcher like Alex Cobb

The San Francisco Giants find themselves in another year where it looks hard to replicate their good 2021 season. In a tough division with the Los Angeles Dodgers, San Diego Padres, and now the Arizona Diamondbacks, the odds of a return to the postseason are dwindling.

In this complicated situation, the Giants will have to resort to becoming sellers this season, depleting players like Alex Cobb within their sales options. Cobb only has one more year left on his contract in the form of a $10 million club option and a $2 million buyout.

His contract value is eye-catching for a pitcher of his caliber, which would attract several contending teams interested in acquiring his services. Cobb is pitching a good season with an ERA that ranks top of the league among starting pitchers.

Much of Cobb's success has been his pitching control, being within the top 10 in the league in BB%. Likewise, his success is also due to a high number of hits on the ground thanks to his powerful 95 mph sinker, to which the opposition hits less than .250.

Alex Cobb looks like a viable option for a rotation that needs pitching experience and mound control. The Mets would have to fight several teams for Cobb's services, something that would increase the desired return for the Giants. However, due to his value and his contract, he is well worth it.

4) The Mets could trade for a New York City familiar face 

The St. Louis Cardinals have become the most disappointing team this 2023. After an excellent campaign in 2022, where they managed to win the central division of the National League, they are among the worst records in the league.

This situation makes the Cardinals one of the main options as sellers if they fail to improve in the coming weeks. Within the options to sell, Jordan Montgomery stands out as an attractive piece in the market.

The young left-handed pitcher is known for his stint with the New York Yankees, where he established himself as a reliable pitcher before being traded to St. Louis in the Harrison Bader trade. Montgomery has been a sub-4.00 ERA pitcher throughout his MLB career, where the opposition has averaged less than .250 in his seven years between the American League and National League.

In 2023, Jordan Montgomery continues to post good numbers and dominance on the mound. He has been limiting hard-hit contact and issuing few walks, which has helped him to allow fewer runs.

Montgomery is in his final year of arbitration before entering free agency for the first time in his career. The Cardinals will be more than motivated to move this pitcher, who will undoubtedly attract a lot of demand where the Mets should be showing a lot of interest.

5) The Mets should acquire an Eduardo who contributes to the team

Eduardo Rodriguez could be the most intriguing option among all the starting pitchers that would be available in the coming weeks. The Detroit Tigers find themselves in a potential seller position again this summer.

Rodriguez is at his best in 2023. With a microscopic ERA coupled with the lowest average walks per nine innings in his career, Eduardo Rodriguez looks like an ace, and his Statcast page confirms it. 

His improvement this season is mainly due to limiting damage via home runs by decreasing the hard-hit contact allowed, the lowest of his career. His entire arsenal is generating a slugging below .350, and his top three pitches (fastball, cutter, and change-up) are fanning more hitters than in years past.

Rodriguez's value couldn't be higher, making him more attractive to the Tigers to sell him. However, what makes this candidate more interesting is his contract.

Eduardo Rodriguez has three more years of control after 2023, with a contract value of $49 million between 2024 and 2026. However, Rodriguez has an option out after this season. Additionally, it has a 10-team no-trade clause that would limit the number of contenders that could acquire its services.

If he continues to maintain his current performance, Rodriguez could prove to be relatively expensive given his contractual situation. However, this new way of pitching projects him as a great weapon on the mound that could help any team in search of the postseason.