Mets starter Noah Syndergaard and closer Edwin Diaz have come up as potential trade candidates in advance of the July 31 deadline, but general manager Brodie Van Wagenen may have trouble dealing either. Van Wagenen’s difficulty wouldn’t necessarily stem from trying to find a trade partner, but from attempting to sell Mets ownership on a return for one or both right-handers. Van Wagenen doesn’t even want to present a possible Syndergaard or Diaz trade to owners Fred Wilpon and Jeff Wilpon unless he’s confident they’ll sign off on it, according to Joel Sherman of the New York Post.
While the Mets are reportedly “fully intent” on trading Syndergaard, talks haven’t grown so serious that Van Wagenen has gone to the Wilpons yet, per Sherman, who adds moving Syndergaard or Diaz wouldn’t signify the beginning of a rebuild. Instead, the Mets could part with one or both with the intention of immediately improving their roster – one that has stumbled to a 47-55 record in 2019.
As a rookie GM, Van Wagenen inherited Syndergaard – a member of the organization since 2013 – but he’s just a few months from swinging a blockbuster trade that brought Diaz to New York. The goal in acquiring Diaz and expensive second baseman Robinson Cano from the Mariners last offseason was to push the Mets toward contention this year. But the deal hasn’t worked out at all for the Mets, who’ve gotten disappointing contributions from Diaz and Cano and have watched Jarred Kelenic and Justin Dunn – the top two prospects they gave up – impress with their new organization. The Mets are leery of risking similar embarrassment now in selling Syndergaard or Diaz, Sherman suggests.
Diaz hasn’t been nearly the pitcher he was a year ago, when he turned in a 1.96 ERA with 15.22 K/9, 2.09 BB/9 and an eye-popping 57 saves in 73 1/3 innings, but he remains valuable. Although Diaz has recorded a 4.81 ERA over 39 1/3 innings, a 3.50 FIP with 13.96 K/9, 2.97 BB/9 and 97 mph velocity accompany that bloated figure. He’s also young (25), on a near-minimum salary this season and under control via arbitration for the next three years. It’s understandable the Mets would need a huge return to move him, though their hope of acquiring a comparable or better package for Diaz than they originally gave up for him is likely a pipe dream.
Meantime, it could be an even bigger challenge for Van Wagenen to talk the Wilpons into giving their blessing to a Syndergaard deal. There’s skepticism Fred Wilpon, in particular, wouldn’t “appreciate the quality” of a return for Syndergaard, writes Sherman. He points to what the Rays received last summer for Chris Archer (whom the Pirates got for Tyler Glasnow, Austin Meadows and Shane Baz) as a possible comparable for Syndergaard. However, even a valuable package along those lines may not be enough to convince the Wilpons that it would be OK for Van Wagenen to move the coveted 26-year-old hurler.
david klein
No question Brodie would get fleeced just like in the Kelenic deal. He’s an Al Harazin clone.
deweybelongsinthehall
His loyalty to players he previously was involved in representing has obviously been a huge fault. Unless however the team is already willing to go in another direction, which they won’t do, let him sink or swim on his own. How many fans last year were pleading for a change?
bigdaddyhacks
Dipoto exec of the year!
24TheKid
Don’t let the Angel fans hear that.
compassrose
Angel fans are just salty because they know he has done a good job here and he hurt them. There are a few trades he hasn’t done all that good on but most have been good. This is probably his best deal he’s done.
compassrose
We could give the Mets an OFer but not the one they gave us, a minor league pitcher, and Gordon, Beckham, and Leake for Diaz. We will eat some of the money too.
LOL
marinerfan
Even with how well this trade has worked out for the Mariners, many Seattle fans aren’t too enameled with Jerry. Give it 2 years and then we’ll see how well this trade has *really* worked out.
jbigz12
Dumping Cano’s money and receiving two top prospects is a win. Relievers are volatile. Edwin Diaz has proved to be no different. I do believe Diaz will be much much better moving forward but even if Kelenic is an average regular and dunn is a #4 starter this is a win.
Now if you want to talk about something that could keep him off the exec of the year train it’s the Kikuchi signing. He should’ve done some more due diligence on that guy. That looks to be eating into the cash they saved on some other deals for very little return.
Ruben_Tomorrow 2
Trading Diaz would be the dumbest move he could make. His value has greatly diminished since the offseason. To give up two top organizational prospects (one Top 100 across baseball) for this guy, only to unload after a bad half season would further expose how much of a mistake he made to deal for Diaz in the first place.
kahnkobra
thats why vanwagen is asking for the same value or higher for Diaz
JerseyShoreScore
He may request whatever he wishes, but clearly like an asset, Diaz’s value is severely depressed. So if he holds firm to equal or greater trade value, Diaz will remain an inconsistent closer on a bottom tier team….
jjd002
Just because the Pirates were idiots doesn’t mean the contending teams are just as stupid.
kahnkobra
theres always a fool
puigpower
If LA would be willing to spend the $ they could acquire both and pay minimal prospect haul. Their top catching prospect and a couple more pieces. I wouldn’t mind seeing these guys at Dodger Stadium.
kleppy12
Umm what? Money doesn’t really matter here as thor and diaz are cheap. There is zero chance you get thor or diaz without give up high level prospects.
budman3 2
Diaz to the Rays for Josh Lowe (CF’er), Joe Ryan (RHP) and either Robertson or Arroyo (3rd baseman ) a PTBNL (both currently on IL)
deweybelongsinthehall
Thor though doesn’t seem to have the value his name suggests, Another poster is correct with respect to teams reacting to what the Pirates did.
vtadave
I don’t think acquiring Syndergaard and Diaz is going to take a “minimal prospect haul”.
boo rad
Guess if Dodgers wanted to also pick up all Cano, Cespedes, and any other contracts the Mets wanted to unload… although, no idea how the Cespedes/insurance pays out. LA can forget about staying remotely close to luxury tax line for the next long minute.
kahnkobra
Cano has no trade, he’s going nowhere
Matt
Maybe the Dodgers would take Bobby Bonilla’s contract too lol
Robbyw90
Would like to see the Cardinals get in on this. They have pieces to make it happen as long as it not too high. Diaz isn’t worth what NYM paid.
Bryzzo2016
They need to do something. The worst place to be in professional sports is the middle and they’re really a step below that. The Braves are stacked w/ young talent so even a rebuild seems counter intuitive for the Mets.
kleppy12
Yeah but rebuilding takes at least 3 or 4 years, often more. By the time the rebuild is complete the braves guys will be coming to the end of their team control years. Also, you can judge a rebuild on other teams usually because ATL could lose 5 guys to serious injuries in the next two seasons and now they are the same team so you really never know what the future holds.
TheDP
The Braves have signed Acuna for 10 years, Acuna for 8 and indications are Freeman will sign an extension for the rest of his career. Swanson is also a candidate for an extension to buy arb years and a year or 3 or ARB. Soroka is controlled thru 2025, Fried 25, Acuna 28, Abies 26, Swanson 24 and Riley to 26. Anderson, Pache, and Waters have not even started their clocks yet either have many of their top pitching prospects. The Braves are perfectly situated already locking down Acuna for 10 years and Albies for 8 and will have this nucleus together for much longer than 3 or 4 years.
TradeAcuna
We can cross the braves off the list! They are content with being farm system champs!
RBI
Trolling again there, AllOur…?
teufelshunde4
The farm system built by a guy who got banned for life lol
Halos2021WSChamps
Thor going to Angels.
Suarez, Barria, Marsh, Maitan
jbigz12
Brodie would be out of a job tomorrow if he took that.
Halos2021WSChamps
Lol whoops. Maybe add Jordyn Adams
24TheKid
Even Brodie is laughing at you right now.
king beas
Starts with adel and canning would most likely have to be in it too
lowtalker1
Matain is trash and isn’t even an angel top 30 prospect. From the time braves signed him until now has put on about 60 pounds of fat and cannot hit a lick nor field
lowtalker1
Dave Stewart 2.0
frank_costanza
If Noah Syndergaard is the top arm to be moved then man what a weak trade deadline. The guy just flat out isn’t that good.
BobSacamano
I can only imagine the look George would be giving you. Festivus will be pretty lonely with that kind of attitude.
of9376
Isn’t that good ? A career 3.21 ERA over 106 starts and only 26 years old. Glad you’re not evaluating talent.
kahnkobra
exactly
SaberSmuckers
You realize how easy it is to look-up Noah’s stats and see how nonsensical your comment is, right?
Biggie22
Mets & Reds should really explore a change of scenery trade. Mets get Tucker Barnhart & Raisel Iglesias & Reds get Edwin Diaz, Wilson Ramos. You can throw in a mid level prospect either way to get it done. Barnhart is a former gold glove catcher who is great with pitchers & on team friendly contract; just an average hitter. Ramos is a good hitter but garbage defender so the two players might be better utilized by the other team. Diaz & Iglesias are both high end closers who were highly sought after and both having crappy seasons. For some reason I think Iglesias would thrive in the big city (a lot of players can’t but I think he would) and Reds pitching coach may be able to get Diaz back to his old self. I think both teams have aspirations of competing next year so getting major league pieces back with control will be important and money would very close overall. Just spitballing here but a change of scenery trade may be fun and beneficial for both sides
Metman34
Mets should keep Syndergaard and trade Wheeler to a team that needs a solid starter, or not. They could also trade him to a contender like the Angels to be used as a 2/1 inning closer because of his high pitch velocity.
metnoxious
Mets trying to create a buzz the only way they know how. Losers.
SaberSmuckers
Speaking of losers.
JerseyShoreScore
What would a trade with the Dodgers for Thor/Diaz look like?
Ruiz, May, Stripling, Pederson, and Gray?
Two of their top five prospects, a couple Major League pieces, as Stripling is a solid mid-rotation starter, Pederson could be kept or they could spin him for a prospect to the Indians or another AL contender.
Would that get it done?
hoosierhysteria
What do Mets need? Let’s see if PADRES have what they need? Yankees fans will say “Mets need every thing “. Mets fans…..speak for your self please.