4:25 pm: The Padres have “not shown much desire” to move Urias in any deal, per The Athletic’s Dennis Lin.
2:56 pm: The Mets, who currently sit in no-man’s land in a stacked-up NL Wild Card picture, are “exploring” a number of trade scenarios, per The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal, one of which includes sending righty Noah Syndergaard to the Padres and using a portion of the loot to pursue Toronto’s Marcus Stroman.
It’s a bizarre scenario for New York, which still boasts a respectable blue-chip group after shipping top prospects Jarred Kelenic and Justin Dunn to Seattle in the Robinson Cano/Edwin Diaz trade. A further depletion of the team’s farm, given its current trajectory, would obviously be unsound, but swapping Syndergaard for Stroman with a marginal gain in prospect capital wouldn’t seem to make much sense either. Stroman, of course, is under control (through 2020) for a season fewer than is Thor, and, despite a recent output that would suggest otherwise, isn’t on level with the 26-year-old ace, whose 2.85 FIP is tied for 6th best among all MLB hurlers since his debut in 2015.
Simply dangling Syndergaard for the choicest return – one that’d almost surely include an MLB-ready piece the club could plug right in to its 25-man – would be the blueprint for most teams, especially ones whose near-term designs on contending had gone awry. Perhaps the club would intend to flip Stroman after the season ends, or even extend him, but his value’s near-zenith at current and an offseason trade wouldn’t figure to net a return commensurate with the departing package this July.
It’s certainly true that the Padres have an embarrassment of riches with which to play, and the headlining piece in the swap with New York – Luis Patiño, perhaps, or the polarizing Luis Urias (9th overall, per Baseball Prospectus, though has struggled big-time in a brief MLB sample thus far) – could anchor the club’s lineup or rotation for years to come, though there isn’t a clear-cut available superstar in the bunch (assuming that lefty MacKenzie Gore is off the table). New York would be selling low on a controllable hurler who’s a decent bet to return to ace form, and swapping him to a team who doesn’t necessarily possess the MLB-ready stud the team seems to covet.
For the Padres, the buy-low opportunity may be too much to pass up, even though the team’s position in the playoff picture – currently 7 GB of the second Wild Card spot – wouldn’t align with a big-fish hook. Assuming the Mets require the full ticket price on Syndergaard, San Diego will be paying a premium for two additional months of the hurler, time in which the club will likely be focused primarily on player development. Still, it may be now-or-never for the Pads, who likely wouldn’t have a chance to acquire Thor if he’s shipped to a team with its eyes on long-term prizes.
This gets more absurd by the day
I’d take Noah any day over Stroman. This season is all but over for the team. What are the Mets thinking?
They have a player agent is their GM chair. Who knows?!?
I don’t believe that thinking has entered the scenario.
One thing. Thor has been inconsistent in a hitter friendly stadium and overall division whereas Stroman has pitched in the overall tougher Rogers’ and AL East. Given the extra year for Thor, it might make sense if a team is desperate and overpays for the comic book hero.
Thor is in a hitter friendly stadium?
Thanks. Meant to say Pitcher friendly.
Agreed….not a Mets fan but wondering why the Mets would even entertain a trade for either this pitcher Patino when they have a proven ML quantity like Thor, or take this kid Urias who plays second (and isn’t exactly thumping the ball) when they Mets seem to have 2nd clogged up with Cano, McNeil, and potentially Lowrie….
If they indeed make a trade, shouldn’t they be targeting ML ready players at positions of need rather than redundantly clog up the same positions and then lose leverage when trying to trade the Incumbent at that position?
Don;t know whether this is the Padres or the Mets thinking.
Patino won’t be going anywhere. The Mets have a better chance at getting Urias. Urias has been hitting the ball hard, but just right at people since he has been called back up.
How does this make sense for the Mets?
It doesn’t even make sense for the Padres either. I’d rather have Patino over Thor.
what? is this why the Padres never contend?
@Miserable – you’d rather have a guy who has yet to pitch an inning above high-A ball where he has pitched to a just-barely-below 3 ERA and has already walked 33 guys in just north of 73 innings, despite his 96 K’s?
Those numbers in high-A don’t exactly translate to pro ball. Sure, he’s not even 20 yet, but if he continues to pitch at his current clip, he doesn’t make it out of AAA. Thor is already a proven ace with electric stuff who has shown he can thrive in the postseason with a competitive team.
If San Diego wants to contend, they need a legitimate #1 and soon. Patino might be that in 5-6 years, Syndergaard is that today.
Um im not saying the first poster is correct with the don’t trade Patino for Thor mindset, but what do you want the kid to do? Barely below 3 ERA? So 2.93. So pretty damn good. And that’s like a 10.2 k/9 ratio with something like a 4 bb/9 ratio. In what world does that project him not getting out of AAA? What do you want pitching prospects to do lol? Strikeout every batter and finish with a zero ERA aha.
#1 starters throw 200 innings a season. Thor does not. He’s also closing in on FA.
When’s the last time Syndergaard has pitched like a number 1 for a full season.
?
Anything less than Gore doesn’t make sense for the Mets.
*click*
Giving up Gore, who could potentially be a superior pitcher than Thor in a year, doesnt make sense for the padres. Personally I wouldnt dangle even Patino for Thor.
No way do the Mets get Gore, unless SD has a major attack of extreme stupid. That guy (Gore) is probably gonna be Big Unit 2.0
Gore, Urias, Patino = click.
Prospects are so overrated. So is controllability. The whole idea is counter productive to what the end goal should be, which is winning a World Series. Syndergaard would be a big time addition to Padres baseball, but as a Giants fan I’ll be more than happy to see them keep the A ball guys forever so we don’t have to face that dude 5 times a year.
Syndergaard has never stayed healthy a full season. Syndergaard is so overrated. That has been evident this season.
Gore wouldn’t even be in the discussion. And trading Syndergaard for much less when you can’t get someone like Gore does.
If Stroman, being from NY, is willing to sign an extension and Thor hates Mets management and doesn’t want to be there, it might make sense to change things up.
No inside knowledge just guessing.
Would have to be a Sonny Gray situation where the trade is contingent on an extension and even then it doesn’t make much sense.
3 team trade?
That would be a lateral move and would make no sense on any front.
Stroman has less control than Syndergaard… the stupidity of the Mets organization is about unimaginable at this point.
I don’t know how this would work, but I can guarantee the Mets will lose the trade.
Always a safe bet
Too bad for Stroman, going from one bad team to another.
He wants the NYC bright lights. There it is.
NYC bright lights? Lol
The Mets are nothing in NY, they are a laughing stock its not like he’d be going to the Yankees.
It was a joke referring to Stroman believing he is made for New York. Him being dealt to the Mets would be funny.
Mets and Padres are like the two drunks at the end of the bar scheming to take over the world once they figure out how to pay their tab.
Best analogy ever
Lolz
Sad but true.
I mean yes the Mets should trade Thor but keeping him would make way more sense than what this article is suggesting they do.
I think someone is screwing around with Rosenthal and feeding him BS. And of course, he puts this crap out as “real”.
exactly
Ken is a pro imo and would not put it out if it was not a legit possibility.
Puhleeze Ken Rosenthal has a well documented history of “stirring the pot.”
He’s the same guy who was on the field and had announced live on TV that ARod had signed a 10-year extension during a World Series game. That could’ve waited until after the game. I’m a Yankees fan.
“Go F yourself San Diego” – Ron Burgundy
I would tend to agree with you, but thsse are the Mets we are talking about.
How can the team I root for be THIS INCREDIBLY STUPID? HOW IS THIS POSSIBLE???
I’m grasping at straws but what if he’s gets SD – AND – ATL prospects by turning around and trading Stroman to ATL, possibly packaging with Diaz? That way he takes from 2 of the most heralded farm-rich orgs, if he can’t get the packages he likes from any 1 team.
wouldn’t Toronto just deal directly with Atlanta if they want stroman?
Typical Mets.
They come up with a complicated, unrealistic scenario to make themselves appear like they are creative and cutting edge, then they end up doing a deal like Cano and Diaz, or signing Jed Lowrie and Familia.
Someone else said it recently, and I thought it was interesting…Jeff and Fred seem to be vying for the back page of the tabloids. Too bad it’s not 1995 anymore.
What a horror show they are.
To be fair the Familia and Lowrie deals seemed like good ideas at the time.
They really didn’t. Lowrie was old and Familia was traded for nothing then resigned for more than Ottavino in the offseason.
Mets also were determined to do everything they could to play McNeil out of position by taking Cano and signing Lowrie.
Meh Familia ranged from good to great for a long time. You could’ve taken your pick between any of Familia, Britton, Ottavino, Kelly, Robertson, Herrera, and had it blown up in your face. I’d just rack it up to the relievers are volatile and don’t work out sometimes. And obviously Ottavino has been the better buy by a mile, but Familia had a much better track record prior to this season.
I liked the Lowrie addition. He could’ve really played anywhere they wanted him to. But either they screwed up badly with the medicals or just got extremely unlucky.
They paid Lowrie 2/$20 for his age 35/36 seasons, when he never made more than $8 mil, and this is in a declining market for player salaries.
That and second base wasn’t a position of need, and this is after they traded for Cano. Insane.
As for Familia, and relievers being mercurial and interchangeable, as a fan you can make that statement, As a GM, you can’t, especially when you run a franchise that is constantly cost conscious and cash strapped.
No one was going 3/$30 for Familia, especially considering his WS and 2016 WC implosions.
BVW, made the same mistakes Sandy did, he rushed to sign guys early, overpaid and got nothing out of them.
To be fair……
To be faaaair……
To beeeeee faaaaaaaair……..
To be fair.
Be fair to
Fair to bees.
Have noted numerous times before that Lowrie has missed considerable portions of seasons for “injuries” consisting of anything from broken bones, to mononucleosis and about everything in between. He should wear a “fragile” tag at all times he’s hurt so often.
Disagree JD. Never would have signed Familia. My choices were either Britton or Robertson. Big thing to me with Lowry is as a Sox fan, I remember him coming up as their next shortstop but the team got frustrated by his injuries and traded him away. He’s always been an injury waiting to happen.
Well said, now watch the dopey Mets fans rush to make excuses.
Next year will be the same song
This idea makes no sense. Trade a top pitcher and then turn around and trade for a lesser one with less team control. If the Mets just want major league ready talent, then maybe Urias and Reyes and then Strahm and Lauer? But it’s the Mets, so it shouldn’t make sense.
2 proven, decent (albeit not great) controlable lefties, a top 20 prospect and a controlable guy who is on pace to hit 40 hrs for Thor? I wanna try whatever you are smoking.
What you wouldn’t do that deal? 2 lefties that no one has ever heard about… but decent. A corner outfielder that K’s a lot (dime a dozen) and a 2B that has had multiple chances and failed every single time. I thought I was being conservative.
They have some young top starters in Paddock, Lucchesi, and Quantril. They have a couple young starters that will be bumping those two anyway… Allen and Morejon. They have top youngsters in Gore , Patino and Weathers working their way up. Add in Thor and Madbum and the Padres would have a very solid rotation.
LF and 2B are about the easiest two positions to fill..
It makes sense if the Mets get a guy from SD that they covet AND Stroman.
Until we know the names it’s all speculation.
No because the Mets aren’t going to contend before Stroman is FA. If they were we wouldn’t be hearing about them trying to trade Thor.
I knew the Meta were dumb but this would take the cake
Already waiting to hear Francesca and Beningo’s monologue if they ever did this. LOL
The Mets and the Padres deserve each other
They shall be called Pets!
Or the Madres
This sounds more like a bored source that’s disappoint about how trades are not happening and wants to shake things up.
I’m bored and I’d never come up with $@% like this.
“Buy high and sell low, that’s what I always say.” – Brodie Van Wagenen
They wouldn’t be the Mets if they didn’t try to do ridiculous things like this
Stroman for Noah. Kick in at least Dominic Smith. Build a deal. Good luck. Doubtful that ever happens.
What?
Fake rumors to stir the pot. Zero chance of this happening.
Mets gonna Met.
Kinsler for Bonillas conteact!
I think it’s genius. Send Noah to SD keep one or two prospects after the flip for Stroman and then flip stroman to another team and double your prospects.
Or just trade Thor for prospects
Instead of getting maybe a top prospect and some middles you keep the top from Noah and trade the middles for Stroman and then trade Stroman and keep the top from that. Come out with more top and less middles
Why in the world would the Blue Jays trade Stroman to the Mets for what you describe as “the middles” when there is a pretty distinct demand for all quality SP on the market? Sure it sounds good for the Mets if it works out that way, but it’s wholly unrealistic.
So you’re saying Toronto will trade Stroman for prospects, and then New York will trade him for better prospects? Something doesn’t add up here why wouldn’t Toronto just trade him for the package New York was receiving lol? You might have to go back to the drawing board.
Corner the market, supply and demand my friend. The more assets you have the better
Corner the market? Why wouldn’t Toronto just cut out the middle man lmao. This makes zero sense on any level
They might want someone from SD that they wouldn’t give up for Stroman but they will for Thor.
If you replace Thor with Stroman AND add a top prospect or two it may make sense. Only if Stroman signs extension, and only if you hit a HR on the prospect exchange. The GM
BVW is wanting redeem himself. If he does anything it should be sell sell sell for prospects. Taking advantage of some team wanting to overpay. That’s it. It doesn’t really make sense
Wow I’m not sure I know how to even respond to this nonsense. It makes zero sense for the Mets but it is the Mets and would they be the Mets if they couldn’t screw up every wet dream?
I just don’t see how they could realistically wind up in a scenario where you can trade Noah, have enough excess from that deal to trade for Stroman, and still hold enough prospect value from the first deal to be worth the difference in what was given up to begin with. Doesn’t even surprise me that this is a thought being floated out there though.
The Mets could screw up a wet dream. You want prospects!
Sounds unrealistic but I get what Mets are doing. Trade Thor and get back Stroman and a MLB top prospect.
This honestly sounds like a crazy trade proposal from some delusional armchair gm found in the comment section of this site lol.
Hey….
Well Brodie like to pretend to be a GM.
Please tell me Stroman wasn’t represented by Brodie. This idea would be stupid on too many fronts. I’m not sold on the Padre available talent. This has the makings of another Brodie disaster
Torres for Thor, Wheeler and Frazier. Who says no? Helps both teams.
Yankees. Torres is already good and will get better. Frazier would never play and Wheeler is hurt
Just to thank we all thought the New York nicks were the most hopeless franchise in New York City. Guess we were wrong all we were so wrong.
Mets should keep Thor.
Trade Wheeler and Vargas to the Rays for a few good prospects.
Trade Dom Smith for some prospects.
Trade Todd Frazier for salary relief.
Try again next year.
Thor will walk after 2020 regardless of where he ends up.
Thor is 2021 right?
Yes. Thor is FA after 2021.
Beware if AJ Preller asks to throw in a certain Mets Minor leaguer… hang up on him.. never call him back. Preller screws ppl w/ gems that go into orbit 3 years later
Not prellers fault. If they are gems, then tank years later, it might be your development team that’s suspect
All this media coverage/leaking shows this is all BS. It’s a PR stunt for the Mets ownership to be relevant for a few weeks. None of these scenarios make any sense.
Exactly. They are constantly trying to sucker their fans that they actually have a clue and are going to improve the team.
They are so behind the curve. Fred needs to send his son somewhere and turn the club over to a real GM. Bloom is still available.
Why is Luis Urias polarizing?
Exactly. They want urias take em.
Little known fact…Urias wears magnetic undershorts. Very polarizing indeed.
Because of his action potential
Why are the Mets so hell-bent on trading Noah Syndergaard with Jacob degrom locked into a long term extension and sure-fire NL Rookie of the Year Pete Alonso also on board for the long haul? It’s not as if they don’t also have other controllable assets on hand either like versatile Jeff McNeill who is leading the NL in hitting as we post and won’t even be arbitration eligible until 2022.
If the Mets do insist on trading Syndergaard then they ought to be considering a deal comparable to what the White Sox received for Chris Sale or Jose Quintana with one important caveat: Substitute at least one of those elite prospects for a controllable “younger” MLB player with a track record or a huge ceiling. Otherwise, why bother?
Btw: A potential deal that might work for the Mets could be a matchup with the Cubs. Perhaps Chicago would like to add a power arm like “Thor” to front a rotation that could use an elite SO pitcher down the stretch, into the postseason and for the 2020 and 2021 seasons as well. Perhaps they would be willing to part with Kyle Hendricks who is controllable through at least 2023 with a reasonably cheap 4 yrs/$55.5M contract extension that kicks in next year with a $16M team option for 2024. The Mets can also insist on one of the Cubs top-100 prospects, perhaps catcher Miguel Amaya OR demand a useful young vet from their active roster like C Victor Caratini or David Bote who could fill the Mets void at 3B.
I wouldn’t say “sure-fire” Tatis Jr. May have something to say about that. I think Peter Alonso is the leader but plenty of time for Tatis, who is the overall better player, to come back and win the NL rookie of the year.
Yes. As a White Sox fan I try to pretend that Fernando Tatis Jr. only exists in another baseball reality. lol
That being said, it still doesn’t make my argument regarding Noah Syndergaard remaining with the Mets any less relevant.
Noah’s not gonna draw that. He hasn’t pitched like an ace for a full season in a long time.
MLBTR post involving in either the Mets, Yankees, Red Sox or Cub fans and you have a couple hundred know it alls show up.
What about this.. padres trade for both Noah and Diaz for prospects and then ttade yates and replenish system. Just a thought
They can turn Diaz into what Hand and Yates became.
Yankees might rethink looking for starters… Another terrible performance from their starter. That’s like 1 quality start in the last 10 games.
What I dont get is ppl keep calling thor an ace with no proven numbers to back it up. His fragile his numbers aren’t great aside from 2 seasons and hes never pitched 200 innings. The Mets break pitchers Harvey, Diaz, Santana it’s where great pitchers go to die. I hope the Yankees dont get involved we dont need another injury prone starter who’s had flashes of ace but nothing else.
Yankees are fools if they don’t get in serious on Syndergaard
I mean.. if the Mets think they can trade Thor for enough value… and then pick up Stroman for little enough that they can increase their farm system enough to offset the drop in value from Thor to Stroman.
And then maybe Stroman is more amenable to an extension because he’s from New York. And you can sell it as still trying to be competitive next year?
A lot of ifs, maybes and uncertainties there. Plus Stroman’s value is probably at its highest and Thor’s probably down… so how much excess value can you really pick up?
I guess I get the thought process here… but seems really unlikely.
That doesn’t make any sense.
Yeah. It really doesn’t.
Just trying to figure out where this idea would even come from.
This is so idiotic.
Time for the Mets to blow it up. They tried to double down this past off season and it blew up in their face (as most expected). Time to trade anyone with value who isn’t Pete Alonso or Jeff McNeill and rebuild the farm. For the guys with team control for another year or more who are having bad seasons (Diaz), hold and hope they bounce back next year. Get as much close to ML talent as you can get and plan to contend in a couple years. Cano’s deal will weight heavily on them as he continues to decline and with no DH they will either need to eat his contract or put him in the field.
BVW may be the dumbest “smart” guy I have ever seen in the GM job. Makes Bowden look like Cashman.
This is nonsense. Just let the Mets and Rays combine teams and move to Montreal
Mets and Angels…. Two very lost organizations, with zero direction. Then add the Yankees and Dodgers to the mix…. this making the Mets and Angels look like a clown organization.
Angels zero direction? Please elaborate.
I’ve said it many times before and will say it again. No matter how bad the Marlins, Braves, Phillies or Nats may be in any given season, their fans can always feel comfortable in knowing that the Mets will still always find a way to be the laughing stock of the division.
Besides trading Seaver, trading Syndergaard would be the dumbest move the Mets could ever make.