Mets coaches and players alike are making it clear that they believe Jacob deGrom is an irreplaceable asset on the mound and should not be traded.

Pitching coach Dave Eiland, who is in his first season with deGrom and the Mets, called the deGrom trade talk "asinine" and asked who would replace all of the innings deGrom's innings this season, next season, and in 2020.

"These guys don't just fall off trees, it's total nonsense,'' he said, per Kevin Kernan of the New York Post. "Say you got five prospects, who is to say those prospects are going to work out?'' Manager Mickey Callaway agreed, calling him "irreplaceable."

DeGrom's teammates are just as hopeful the Mets hold on to him. 3B Todd Frazier said he "would never want to trade a person like that, a guy that dominant."

"He works fast, mows guys down, he takes the pressure off us," Frazier explained. "I was talking to [Rockies third baseman Nolan] Arenado [Monday] and he said, 'I'm scuffling but I was feeling a little better until I had to come in today to face deGrom. Worst nightmare.'"

OF Michael Conforto echoed Frazier's sentiments and noted that he has watched him grow every season since 2015.

"You absolutely do not trade him," Conforto said. "As a teammate, he doesn't necessarily have to say much but you can tell he is the leader of the pitching staff. What he does on the field and off the field, that's what you want in your ace."

DeGrom allowed one earned run on five hits in the Mets' 5-2 win over the Rockies on Monday night. He has completed eight innings in two of his last three starts.

The 30-year-old deGrom has a 1.51 ERA/1.97 FIP, 0.986 WHIP in 95 innings this season.

Andy Martino, SNY.tv | Twitter |

I feel ya, Dave. Been saying the same thing myself. But here's the difference between me and you: your bosses are actively discussing doing the thing that you called "asinine." They might have preferred a softer word.

Still, it's not for us to kill Eiland for the comment. First, you have to love his willingness to share a strong option. Second, the logic that he lays out after dropping the word "asinine" is solid. Third, he's doing his job, advocating for the guys on his staff and in the current clubhouse. Of course a pitching coach doesn't want to lose his ace.

But there are influential voices in the Mets front office who do not believe that trading deGrom would be asinine.

They believe that it would be a smart way to begin a two-year rebuild. They believe that it is a logical option, and one worth looking at. They probably appreciate Eiland's passion, but don't love hearing their ideas called stupid.

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