Mets' general manager Sandy Alderson has expressed there is a limited shortstop market this offseason. Being that New York tried to trade for Troy Tulowitzki before this year's deadline, are they willing to dangle their young pitchers in a deal for an established shortstop?
Although 23-year-old shortstop Wilmer Flores has played only 105 games in two seasons with the Mets and has potential, rumors and speculation suggest the team is looking to acquire someone else to play the position. And with six starters under contract for 2015, plus prospect right-hander Noah Syndergaard in Triple-A, the Mets can make a deal with another team in need of pitching. However, Alderson has been fairly vague on the matter.
"We've looked at our shortstop situation, as many of you have," he said in this NJ.com article. "It would be next on our list to consider. So we will do that. Whether or not we ultimately feel that we need to do something there given what's available on the market, both free agency and trade, we'll see. But that's definitely that we'll be taking a look at and considering over the next week and into the offseason."
"I know there are fans out there that don't want to hear it but if we had to go into the season with Flores as our shortstop I'm certainly not in a panic mode at that point," he added last week. "Wilmer at shortstop is one of those guys that doesn't pass the eye test but if you start to look at his matrix a little bit you realize there's maybe a little more there than we give him credit. And offensively there's as much potential with him as probably anybody that's available."
But things might change, especially if the Chicago Cubs don't land one of the top-tier free-agent starters as planned. Chicago is pursuing left-hander Jon Lester right now, but those within the organization believe he's going to re-sign with the Boston Red Sox. If that's the case, the team may have to explore a trade for a pitcher if they hope to contend next season, meaning shortstop Starlin Castro could officially hit the trading block. Chicago might look to acquire a pitcher in a trade even if they land one of the top free agents so they can add depth because their surplus of middle infield makes them an attractive trade partner.
But for a shortstop like Castro, the Mets would have to give up one of their better pitchers, and then some, especially since he has five years and only a guaranteed $44 million left on his contract. Zack Wheeler would likely be that guy since most teams aren't interested in Jonathon Niese, Bartolo Colon and Dillon Gee. The team is unlikely to trade starter Matt Harvey and their willingness to part ways with NL Rookie of the Year Jacob deGrom is unknown. This leaves Wheeler, who is 18-16 with a 3.50 ERA and 1.34 WHIP in 49 starts over the past two seasons with New York. He's only 24 years old and is under club control through the 2019 season. Matthew Cerrone of Metsblog.com thinks it's a possibility Wheeler gets dealt if the Cubs can't land one of the pitchers on their wish list.
"The point is, right now, in November, the Cubs are thinking about the names above (Lester, Cole Hamels, James Shield, David Price in 2016). They're not thinking about Noah Syndergaard and Rafael Montero, at least not yet. I suspect that if Chicago rolls craps on the above options, maybe they call Sandy Alderson to try and get Jacob deGrom or Zack Wheeler."
Although Wheeler recently said he wants to stay with the Mets and thinks they're capable of winning, the trade market may not allow him to do so. We'll be keeping up with any possible developments on this front because it's all dependent what happens in the coming weeks of free agency.
