If you've yet to hear anything about the debacle between the New York Mets and Matt Harvey, now would be a good time to remove yourself from under that rock. The further tension this situation may potentially cause could result in the Mets trading their ace.
The latest rumors do not suggest anything of the sort yet, but the possibility is already a big topic of discussion. Harvey, who has been an integral aspect of the Mets' success this year, is 13 2/3 innings away from his all-of-a-sudden strict innings cap (which was never the case until Friday), and although he told Mets fans last night that he'd be pitching in the postseason, it's tough to envision how that would be possible.
The Dark Knight betrayed Gotham on Saturday. For over 24 hours the right-hander was more so regarded as a member of the Suicide Squad rather than the Caped Crusader. Harvey caused an ever bigger stir than Scott Boras did when the 26-year-old told members of the media at Marlins Park that he has regarded 180 innings as his limit all along, even after general manager Sandy Alderson acknowledged in January that Harvey could throw up to 200 innings in 2015.
The Mets are poised to make the postseason for the first time since 2006 and - despite what he says - there's a chance he does not pitch or is at least limited during those crucial games (if they make it there). If that's the case, his reputation with the Mets will be altered so drastically that he may never be viewed the same way again.
So let the trade rumors begin. If Harvey's postseason performance (or lack thereof) significantly affects the Mets' chances of winning, will the team trade him in the offseason?
"The Mets should go through on this because they have stockpiled enough starting pitching to envision perennial competition without Harvey," Ken Davidoff of the New York Post writes. "Jacob deGrom, Steven Matz, Jon Niese and Noah Syndergaard fronting a rotation to kick off 2016, with Zack Wheeler working to return midseason? Yup, that'd work ... assuming the Mets score runs more like August and September and less like April through July.
"And the best way to beef up that offense, what with rentals Yoenis Cespedes, Kelly Johnson and Juan Uribe as well as homegrown Daniel Murphy all likely to depart? Use Harvey to get someone impactful in return. How about Colorado outfielder Carlos Gonzalez? Or Giants shortstop Brandon Crawford? Or Royals center fielder Lorenzo Cain? Or Twins second baseman Brian Dozier? Just spitballing here; the Mets can do the actual legwork. Alderson owns a pretty good track record when it comes to trades."
Davidoff is not alone in regards to that belief.
"The Mets should also make a business decision this winter: They should trade Harvey," adds ESPN Insider Buster Olney.
"If it was personal, the Mets might do this anyway, because there will be enormous fallout from Harvey's choice. Given the timing of all this and how it seemingly descended on the Mets like a piano plummeting from the sky, if the Mets were to somehow collapse and miss the playoffs, Harvey will be blamed. If the Mets reach the postseason and Harvey pitches briefly and poorly and they are knocked out, he will be blamed. If the Mets reach the postseason and he doesn't pitch before they are knocked out, he will be blamed. If they win in the postseason -- if they somehow win the World Series -- and Harvey plays a minor role or no role at all, he will still be blamed for abandoning them."
It's been years since Mets fans were this invested in their team. They've been the talk of the city for the first time in decades (aside from perhaps that small window of time when they were one game away from the World Series in 2006, before reverting back to the 'same old Mets' after Carlos Beltran struck out looking to end Game 7 of the NLCS).
And if Harvey - viewed as the savior of the Mets - spoils their chances of making a deep postseason run, a divorce isn't likely. It's a foregone conclusion.
