5 possible Mets starting pitcher trade targets for when market heats up

With Max Scherzer expected to be sidelined for the next six-to-eight weeks after suffering an oblique injury and Tylor Megill still out because of biceps tendinitis, the Mets' starting rotation depth is about to be seriously tested.

Behind Chris Bassitt, Carlos Carrasco, and Taijuan Walker, David Peterson is going to be asked to fill one of the empty rotation spots.

Options for the other spot -- which could possibly be filled again by Megill sooner rather than later -- include Thomas Szapucki, Trevor Williams, and Adonis Medina.

The Mets getting Megill back soon (he's eligible to return from the IL on May 27) would obviously be huge since it would mean only having to patch one rotation spot long-term.

But even if Megill returns quickly, the Mets -- with Scherzer dealing with a tricky injury and Jacob deGrom making progress toward a return but not yet on a mound -- should be exploring the trade market for reinforcements.

The issue at the moment, as SNY contributor Anthony McCarron wrote about earlier this week, is that teams are simply not ready to make trades in May -- even ones who are buried in the standings and almost certain to remain there.

The trade market will thaw, though. And when it does, here are five pitchers the Mets should think about pursuing...

Frankie Montas

It's wild that Montas is still on the Oakland Athletics, who with their actions this offseason loudly announced that they were entering a rebuild and had little interest in attempting to contend this season. 

The A's traded Chris Bassitt and Sean Manaea before the season, but Montas remains. And he is set to be a free agent after the 2023 season. So unless the A's think they're going to somehow contend by next season, dealing Montas at some point before this year's trade deadline is a no-brainer. 

Montas is earning just a shade over $5 million this season, so if you combine his very affordable deal with another year of control in 2023, it's clear he won't be cheap to obtain. But Montas, who has a 3.67 ERA (3.39 FIP) and 1.02 WHIP with 53 strikeouts in 49 innings this season, should be at the top of the Mets' list.

Zack Greinke

Greinke signed with the Kansas City Royals this offseason as he returned to where his big league career started. But the Royals were 14-23 entering play on Friday and are likely not going to make noise in the AL Central.

Greinke is a free agent after the season, so it would make sense for the Royals to dangle Greinke on the market and see who bites.

He isn't the ace he was as recently as 2019, but he is still consistent and reliable, with a 4.02 ERA and 1.16 WHIP since 2020.

Luis Castillo

Castillo's name has been in the rumor mill since last season, but so far the Cincinnati Reds have resisted trading him. Could that change this season?

After a historically bad start to the year, Cincinnati has been better recently. But they're 11-26 and in the basement of the NL Central.

Like Montas, Castillo is under team control through 2023. But potentially complicating things is the fact that the start of Castillo's season was delayed because of a shoulder injury. He returned on May 9 and has made two starts so far.

Tyler Mahle

Mahle has struggled to start the season, with a 5.23 ERA and 1.34 WHIP in nine starts. But his 3.36 FIP suggests he's been unlucky and that his ERA is due to improve, and his advanced numbers at Baseball Savant are mostly in the red (which is a good thing).

The Reds are not in full give-up mode, but some of their offseason moves -- including trading Jesse Winker and Eugenio Suarez to the Seattle Mariners -- sent a pretty big signal that they're not interested in winning any time soon.

And if the Reds are not seriously attempting to contend right now, both Mahle and Castillo should be made available, with the Reds likely able to get a strong haul back for both.

Wade Miley

Miley has bounced around a lot lately, playing for four teams in the last five seasons, and he's found himself on the Chicago Cubs this year.

Miley has been sneaky good over the last five seasons, with a 3.51 ERA and 1.31 WHIP in 85 games. He dealt with elbow inflammation earlier this season, but has been strong in his first two starts since returning.

The Cubs, who signed Marcus Stroman during the offseason and also added Seiya Suzuki to their outfield, are not punting the season. But their record (they were 15-22 entering play on Friday) might eventually force their hand.