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New York Mets Rumors: Jon Niese Could Be Traded For Right Price

By Kenneth Teape

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New York Mets Rumors: Jon Niese may not be on the trade block, but he could be had for the right price if an offer comes along that they like.

The New York Mets look like they could have some big holes in their lineup in 2016. With Daniel Murphy and Yoenis Cespedes both free agents and unlikely to return to the team, the Mets have some work to do to replace that production.

The Mets are still in the running to sign Ben Zobrist, who would help greatly to fill the hole left by Murphy at second base. His versatility would also help get David Wright some rest as a legitimate backup at third base, and he can also fill in at shortstop and the corner outfield in a pinch. But if the Mets are unable to land Zobrist, they will still have some holes on their lineup. How can they fill them? By trading from a strength, such as the starting pitching.

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While the Mets are not actively shopping Jon Niese, he could be had in a trade. With Noah Syndergaard, Jacob deGrom, Matt Harvey and Steven Matz essentially untouchable, and Zack Wheeler close to returning from Tommy John Surgery, the Mets have a lot of starting pitching. Unlike those big four, the Mets will not hesitate to trade Niese if the right move comes along.

“We haven’t been actively shopping him, but other than the four guys [Harvey, deGrom, Syndergaard and Matz], we’re going to be looking for ways to improve the team. If there’s a deal that involves him and makes us better, I think we would definitely consider if,” assistant general manager John Ricco said.

While the Mets are not dangling Niese and putting him on the trade block, it sounds that he could be had for the right price. You may ask, why the Mets would want to move Niese with Wheeler probably not coming back until around midseason? That is because they have options that they like that could fill in until Wheeler is ready.

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On the team already is former top prospect Rafael Montero, who has fallen out of favor with the other youngster jumping over him. He is someone that the Mets have been comfortable using in the past, and would be comfortable using in the first half of the season once again if the need arose. They could also go with a player such as Sean Gilmartin, who has starting experience and pitched well out of the bullpen for the team last season.

“We do feel good about where Rafael Montero is health-wise, and I think he’d be a candidate for that. Be we have other guys that we like. Sean Gilmartin has started in the past, and I think he’s shown he can get major league hitters out. So he’d be another consideration. And then we have some other young pitchers who would be in the mix there,” Ricco also said.

Another thing to keep an eye on regarding the Niese trade front is the status of Bartolo Colon. Colon is a free agent, and if the Mets re-signed him, he would fit right in at the back of their rotation until Wheeler can return. He would then become a spot starter and bullpen arm once Wheeler returned, something he seemed to take better to than Niese did at the end of the 2015 regular season and playoffs. If the Mets choose to bring him back, the Mets could then increase their efforts to move Niese in a trade.

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The needs for the Mets heading into the Winter Meetings is pretty clear; help at second base, a platoon partner for Juan Lagares and bullpen help. If Niese garners interest at the Winter Meetings and can fetch one of those three things, do not expect the Mets to hesitate; Niese is easier to replace if he can help fill one of their bigger holes.

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