As rumored over the past 24 hours, the Yankees have reportedly been calling up their crosstown rivals, the Mets, to inquire about-left handed starter Steven Matz.
Kevin Davidoff and Mike Puma of the New York Post were first to report a trade is being discussed.
The Yankees are interested in Steven Matz. https://t.co/m0Pp53gDuH via @nypostsports
— Mike Puma (@NYPost_Mets) March 2, 2020
The Yankees have caught the injury bug in their starting rotation over the last few weeks. First, James Paxton goes down with a balky shoulder. Then, Luis Severino needed Tommy John surgery. Domingo German was suspended for domestic battery at the end of last year. That leaves the Yankees with only three concrete starters: Gerrit Cole, J.A. Happ, and Masahiro Tanaka. The last two spots are up for grabs between Jonathan Loasiga, Jordan Montgomery, Deivi Garcia, Michael King, and Nick Nelson. All of those players, besides the first two, are long-shots to making the rotation and the Yankees would probably prefer a more-developed arm for a team with World Series hopes.
That’s where the Mets come in.
It is no secret that the Mets have a very good problem in that they have six top-notch starters for five spots. Led by Cy Young award winner Jacob deGrom, the Mets will look to follow deGrom with Noah Syndergaard and Marcus Stroman, leaving two spots for Rick Porcello, Steven Matz, and Michael Wacha.
Matz has been with the Mets since being drafted as a second-rounder in 2009 and is under contract through 2022. He has been pretty consistent during the last two seasons despite his infamous first inning struggles. He makes an ideal No. 3 starter which is exactly why he has appeal to Brian Cashman and co.
The Mets shouldn’t really be exploring a trade especially since they have had injury problems with their rotation previously and there can never be too much depth. Yet, some information on framework and likelihood of a trade has become clear.
According to several sources in the Mets organization, the deal would at minimum need to include Miguel Andújar or Clint Frazier plus a young pitcher. That could be anyone from Michael King to Roansy Contreras. The Mets are asking a big haul for a big lefty and rightfully so. The deal truly is unlikely to ever gain any traction. One source went on to explain that this is Cashman’s way of manipulating the market to get the price he wants later on in a prospective trade.
Is it likely that a deal happens? No.
Does it make sense for talks to happen? Absolutely.
History has shown that the Yankees always go after Mets pitching just to hype them up only to back out before anything serious comes in place. Only time will tell on this one, but it wouldn’t be wise for a deal to be orchestrated.
