Trade rumors began to surround New York Mets starter Matt Harvey when the whole innings limit debacle surfaced in early September. However, Harvey blew off the limit and has pitched tremendously for the Mets ever since.
But could New York still be interested in trading him in the offseason?
The Boston Red Sox could apparently a potential suitor.
"Some are speculating that Boston could possibly become a player for Matt Harvey," Jon Heyman of CBS Sports wrote in his latest Inside Baseball column. "The Red Sox obviously need an ace, as new baseball president Dave Dombrowski loves hard throwers and the Mets could listen (though they say they won't discount) after the late-season controversies. As a bonus, Harvey is from Groton, Conn., which is Red Sox territory. One issue could be what to give up: No one can see them parting with budding star Xander Bogaerts."
It's obvious the Mets have a surplus of top-end starters while the Red Sox are severely lacking in that department. New president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski is expected to make the starting rotation his top priority, but it's unknown if he'll be addressing that aspect of the roster in free agency or the trade market.
Perhaps with their surplus of top prospects, Dombrowski could be more inclined to add an ace in a trade, and due to their deep farm system he won't be at all inclined to move Bogaerts.
Trade talks involving Harvey and Boston are nothing new. The possibility was discussed last month and the Red Sox have been interested in the right-hander for quite some time.
"The Sox also may be uniquely qualified to make a deal because of their talent base," Peter Abraham of the Boston Globe wrote back in September. "They could build a package around Bogaerts, Mookie Betts or Blake Swihart. Or try a group of prospects led by Yoan Moncada and Manuel Margot.
"Because of his age, trading for Harvey is a better risk than signing an expensive free agent like Johnny Cueto or David Price. Plus the Red Sox would not lose their first-round draft pick if that proves to be unprotected.
"The Sox have never made a blockbuster deal with the Mets. Maybe now is the time."
The Mets could lose a number of crucial players in free agency this offseason. Yoenis Cespedes, Daniel Murphy, Tyler Clippard, Juan Uribe, Kelly Johnson and others will hit the open market and New York may not have the money/want to offer big money to some of these players.
If the Mets don't retain one or more of those players, they will have to somehow supplement that talent. Using their plethora of starting pitching as leverage and scouring the plentiful Red Sox's farm system wouldn't be a bad start.
