Minutes after Noah Syndergaard picked apart the White Sox over 7.1 dominant innings -- sitting 98-99 MPH with his fastball and unleashing secondary pitches that were as nasty as they've been all season -- he stood in the Mets' clubhouse and made it clear what he wants the team to do at the trade deadline.

"Five games out and two months left to play in the season," Syndergaard said. "I think technically selling would just be giving up. I think we have plenty of opportunities to make a run at this thing."

Syndergaard, who had earlier said the rumors about his future were "getting kind of old" and that he expected to stay put, wasn't talking about himself when addressing the trade deadline plan. He was talking about the team as a whole.

And despite the Mets' hot streak (they're 11-5 in the second half, have won five-straight games, and are just 5.0 games back of a Wild Card spot), SNY's Andy Martino reported after Tuesday's win that the plan is still to sell.

According to Martino, Syndergaard remains available, though the fact that the Mets let him take the ball last night seemingly suggests that nothing was too hot on Syndergaard as of last night at 8:10 p.m.

Along with Syndergaard, Zack Wheeler's name has been out there, and the expectation remains that he will be moved before Wednesday's 4 p.m. deadline.

When it comes to Wheeler, who is a free agent after the season, the Astros have been "working hard" to acquire him, according to Martino.

Aside from Wheeler, the Astros were interested in Trevor Bauer, who was traded to the Reds on Tuesday night in a massive three-team trade that also included the Padres.

Wheeler is scheduled to pitch for the Mets on Thursday against the White Sox in Chicago, while Syndergaard is slated to take the ball on Sunday against the Pirates in Pittsburgh -- the day after newly acquired Marcus Stroman makes his Mets debut.

Whether Wheeler or Syndergaard (or even both) is gone by then remains to be seen. Tick tock.

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