Mets Rumors: Zack Wheeler Will Not Be Trade Bait
New York Mets Rumors: If the Mets are going to make a trade to improve their lineup, it does not look like Zach Wheeler will be used as trade bait.
New York Mets rumors will pick up in the coming days and weeks heading into the trade deadline as they have a lot of spots to fill. The Mets are currently in a tie with the Miami Marlins for second place in the National League East, and could use a boost in their lineup.
The Mets lineup has been ravaged by injury, as Travis d’Arnaud, David Wright and Lucas Duda all have missed extended time. Add in ineffective play from players such as Michael Conforto, and a Mets lineup that looked like one of the deepest in the league heading into the season all of a sudden isn’t so special.
Could the Mets be buyers once again this season as they were last season? Last season the Mets’ rebuilt their lineup, acquiring Juan Uribe and Kelly Johnson from the Atlanta Braves, and then Yoenis Cespedes from the Detroit Tigers. The Mets could be staring down another similiar overhaul this season as well with their offense sputtering the way that it is.
A lost weekend against the lowly Braves could push that decision to come sooner than later, as the Mets lost three straight games to the Braves at Citi Field. In those three losses, the Mets scored four runs, so the need for some pop in their lineup is there.
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The Mets still have some pieces to move if they wish to make a trade, one of which being starting pitcher Zack Wheeler. Wheeler was almost dealt last season to the Milwaukee Brewers with Wilmer Flores for Carlos Gomez. That trade fell through, and Cespedes was acquired instead. Could the Mets go down that route again with Wheeler?
It doesn’t look like that is currently in the cards. Despite the need for help in their lineup, it does not seem like the Mets are willing to include Wheeler in a deal this time around, especially with his return expected to be after the All-Star break.
According to David Lennon of Newsday, the Mets have close to zero interest in moving Wheeler, even if a return package was a big one. The Mets view Wheeler as an integral part of their second half plans, as he is expected to join the rotation, potentially at the expense of Bartolo Colon.
There can be an argument made that Colon deserves to keep his roster spot, as he has been strong once again this season. He has a record of 6-3 with a 3.01 ERA in 12 starts thus far this season.
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Whatever the Mets decide to do, they need to make some changes to the lineup. Things are not working currently, and simply waiting for d’Arnaud and Duda to return from the DL is not enough. There are plenty of teams that will be selling at the deadline, and the Mets have to take advantage once again as they did last year before the Washington Nationals pull away.