The New York Mets have six starting pitchers listed on their depth chart heading into spring training. They have been trying to trade one of them this offseason, but have failed to do so. Is Dillon Gee the odd man out?
Gee has been the subject of trade rumors for much of the offseason, especially during the MLB Winter Meetings, but New York has failed to make a deal happen. As of last month, the Rockies, Padres, Royals, Twins and Giants have been linked to the right-hander, but a club source told Adam Rubin of ESPNNewYork.com that trade talks are "nonexistent right now."
On top of that, Rubin writes "team officials are prepared to stick Gee in a long relief role to open the season - with occasional spot starts possible for Harvey or to spell others." In a rotation the consists of Matt Harvey, Jacob deGrom, Jonathon Niese, Bartolo Colon and Zack Wheeler, it appears the team feels Gee is most suitable for a role in the bullpen. Gee and the Mets avoided arbitration last month with a one-year, $5.3 million and he remains under club control through the 2016.
The Mets spent the offseason looking to trade Gee, Niese or Colon to make room for the returning Harvey, but talks for Niese never took off and New York refused to cover any of Colon's $11 million salary, which forced teams to back off. Prospect starters Noah Syndergaard and Steven Matz are also not too far away from making their major league debuts, so the Mets need to find a way to fix this "good" problem of starting pitching depth.
Gee is seemingly being a good sport about the possibly being moved to the bullpen while also being the subject of trade talks.
"I know I love being out there as a starter," he told Rubin. "But if I'm asked to be a reliever, then I'm going to do the best I can. ... I have no doubt that I can be successful. It's just I definitely want to be a starter."
"As long as I'm playing baseball, I don't really care where it's at," he added when asked about being traded. "...To me, though, as long as I'm on that mound pitching, that's where I'll be happy."
The Mets will have pitchers and catchers report to spring training on Feb. 19 and position players arrive Feb. 24.
