Andy Martino, SNY.tv | Twitter |
The deal is there to be made, and it's fair for both teams. Noah Syndergaard to the Yankees; Deivi Garcia and other prospects to the Mets. A classic win-win.
But according to major league sources, the teams haven't had much traction yet in trade talks, and both sides are highly skeptical that a deal will happen.
Syndergaard is likely to remain with the Mets at least until the offseason. If the team changes course and does move him before next Wednesday, they'll have many options. One source said that, despite the Mets' stated intentions, Syndergaard is being scouted "heavily" this month.
According to sources, the Astros, Padres and Brewers join the Yankees as teams with interest in Syndergaard (Houston's engagement is not heavy at this point, sources say). The Twins are on the periphery.
Make no mistake: The Yanks and Mets have spoken many times in recent weeks about Syndergaard and Zack Wheeler, exchanging proposals and counter-proposals. Omar Minaya personally scouted Garcia's Triple-A debut. But the teams haven't gotten close to a deal, and don't expect that to change by July 31.
Last week, SNY reported that while Garcia for Wheeler was a non-starter for the Yankees, Garcia for Syndergaard might get their attention. This remains the case, because Syndergaard is under team control through the 2021 season, making him worth two top prospects.
The Yankees are interested in him because of that control, plus his elite repertoire and recent improvements. One evaluator not affiliated with either team noted that Syndergaard has been better recently, especially with his slider, and that new pitching coach tandem Phil Regan and Jeremy Accardo seem to have helped him.
Syndergaard to the Yankees makes sense for the obvious reason that the team is trying to win a World Series and could use rotation help. Other options are closing off: Wheeler's shoulder injury scared off several interested teams; Trevor Bauer's Indians are now winning; Madison Bumgarner's Giants are in the race, though the Yanks were never that excited about him anyway.
The Bronx remains a possible destination for Marcus Stroman, Robbie Ray, Mike Minor and Matthew Boyd, though prices for all remain astronomical.
For the Mets, Garcia would represent a strong return for Syndergaard. Brodie Van Wagenen's major concern in trading Syndergaard would be losing the chance to contend next year.
While Garcia is only 20 years old, he is close to major league-ready. The Yankees haven't ruled out calling him up later this year. As a Met, he could compete for a rotation spot as soon as spring training. The Mets would be swapping a pitcher with two years remaining before free agency for a pitcher with six years of control.
In addition to Garcia, the Mets could reasonably demand another top prospect for Syndergaard, whether it's outfielder Estevan Florial, pitcher Albert Abreu, or someone else. There's no guarantee that any of these players will become quality major leaguers, but that's a strong haul of talent, and probably as well as the Mets could do anywhere.
Plus, clearing Syndergaard from the 2020 payroll would make it easier to make Wheeler a qualifying offer and keep him for another season (this is possible, though a Wheeler trade is more likely).
The Yankees are open for business. They would at least talk about these scenarios. We urge all reluctant parties to keep their minds open and give it a try.