What if Yanks Cashman and Mets BVW are running a swerve on the fans?

With hours to go before the Major League trade deadline, it seems as if the Mets and Yankees are playing a high stakes game of chicken. What if they aren’t and all the talk is just a smokescreen for both GM’s to save face with their fans?

It could be one of the greatest non-professional wrestling swerves in the history of local sports. Indulge me, because this is a fun scenario. The New York Mets and New York Yankees are supposed to hate each other because they play in the same city. At least that’s what the fans want.

In reality, most general managers probably have a pretty good relationship with each other. They are professionals making their way through a highly scrutinized business. If I had to put money on it, I’d say Brian Cashman and Brodie Van Wagenen get-along quite well. That’s why I have to take the recent comments with a grain of salt about a Yankees offer for Noah Syndergaard has to be significantly better than anyone else’s to make a trade happen.

What if this is just a huge “work” (playing off a predetermined outcome) by both GM’s in pure WWE style? Let’s look at the facts for a minute.

The Yankees run this market right now. They desperately need a starting pitcher. The Mets have a starter Cashman really likes, but it isn’t Syndergaard, its Zack Wheeler. He knows he has to tread lightly with the team in Queens because of the chip on their owner’s shoulder.

On the other side, the Mets constantly act like a little brother. They can’t let their crosstown rivals possibly get one over on them. Acting like the small market team they aren’t, it’s been decided that Wheeler won’t be re-signed when his contract expires at the end of the year. In fact, they have already replaced him with Marcus Stroman in the pitching rotation.

Additionally, the Mets want their fans to believe that they haven’t totally given up on 2019 because there are two months worth of tickets to be sold. They are only six games out of a playoff spot, so why not go for it. That’s why Stroman is here. He made Wheeler redundant.

Yes, the Mets dumped Jason Vargas, but they can surely find someone in the organization to throw five-plus decent innings every fifth or sixth day. Vargas was good this season but hardly lights out.

Enter the swerve or work or whatever you want to call it. There is already a predetermined outcome at play. With so many teams still in the playoff hunt, there isn’t much availability for a starter. So whoever the Bombers acquire will be expensive.

Wheeler proved in his last start that his shoulder problems are behind him, to the Yankees’ satisfaction. A trade has been made and the call between Cashman and BVW probably happened over last weekend. Aside from the trade, they also worked out how they will spin it.

Remember, both GM’s have to look strong in front of their fans and the local media. Van Wagenen makes his Syndergaard to the Yankees comments knowing full well Thor is going nowhere. Cashman responds with a gee whiz, I don’t have a problem trading with the Mets, but hey we are the Yankees and we will get something done.

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Wednesday before the deadline, Wheeler is sent to the Bronx for some Major League or close to Major League-ready talent (not Deivi Garcia). It could include a top prospect or a player such as Miguel Andujar or Clint Frazier or some combination there about.

In his press conference, Cashman is all smiles. He said he got the pitcher he wanted all along. Of course, he had to pay more than he would have liked because it was a seller’s market. In the end, what he gave up was a small price to pay for going back to the World Series.

Across town, BVW is holding a presser as well, looking equally as confident. He comes out and tells the assembled media that he held firm on Syndergaard. Instead, he was able to move Wheeler, a pitcher who was gone at the end of the season, and already made expendable by the Stroman trade, for some players he thinks will help the Mets win today and in the future.

Now the predetermined outcome, much like a professional wrestling match, has come to fruition. Both teams got what they wanted. More importantly, each general manager spun the situation to look like a strong leader in front of their respective fans.

It’s a script even Vince McMahon can be proud of. the details will remain a secret between Brian Cashman and Brodie Van Wagenen.