WASHINGTON — Zack Wheeler planned to spend Monday’s off day at a dinosaur museum, as Mets officials searched for the kind of potential trade that is becoming extinct.
Five years ago it might have been easy to find teams willing to part with a top prospect at the trade deadline for the middle-of-the-rotation help Wheeler can provide, but in 2018 it’s a stiff challenge.
So the Mets will head to Tuesday’s 4 p.m. non-waiver trade deadline expecting to keep the 28-year-old right-hander, but hopeful Tyrannosaurus Rex might still appear, in the form of a fruitful trade.
The Mets are unlikely to deal Wheeler without receiving a team’s top-five prospect and at least another mid-level minor league player in return, according to industry sources. But even that might not be enough given the manner in which the organization is beginning to value Wheeler.
From the Mets’ perspective the ceiling remains high on Wheeler, who has pitched to a 3.20 ERA over the last two months and added life to an already plus-fastball. On the flip side, Wheeler hasn’t pitched a full season since 2014 and interested teams are left to wonder if his last 11 starts are the new reality or just a mirage. Wheeler missed 2015 and ’16 recovering from Tommy John surgery and was shut down in the second half of last season with a stress reaction in his right arm.
Near certain to remain with the Mets are Jacob deGrom, Noah Syndergaard and Steven Matz, each of whom would require a haul in prospects as a return.
Wheeler is more expendable with the belief Seth Lugo or Robert Gsellman could be inserted into the back end of the rotation and still give the Mets a formidable unit. But with the Mets planning to make a run at contention in 2019, the centerpiece of any deal for Wheeler would have to be major league ready (or close). Team officials have placed an emphasis on second base, catcher and center field as positions in need of an upgrade.
The Mets have already shed Jeurys Familia and Asdrubal Cabrera, in trades to the Athletics and Phillies, respectively, for minor league players. The highest-rated return of the group was the Phillies’ No. 10 prospect, according to Baseball America, right-handed pitcher Franklyn Kilome.
But whereas Familia and Cabrera are headed to free agency after the season, Wheeler is under club control through 2019, making him more than a rental for any team that wants to acquire him.
The Brewers, Phillies, Braves, Yankees, Rockies, Rangers and Reds have all been linked to Wheeler, who is among the best available arms remaining. Last week an industry source said eight to 10 teams were showing solid interest in Wheeler.
On a smaller level, Wilmer Flores, Devin Mesoraco and Jose Bautista are players the Mets could move by 4 p.m. Tuesday. But any member of that group would likely clear August waivers and could be dealt after Tuesday.
The bulk of the Mets’ dealing last summer came after the non-waiver trade deadline, when Jay Bruce, Curtis Granderson and Neil Walker were all traded. Lucas Duda and Addison Reed were dealt before the non-waiver trade deadline. The total yield for the five players was seven minor-league relievers, including Jacob Rhame and Gerson Bautista, both of whom have pitched for the Mets this season.
