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MLB Trade Rumors: 5 Mets players that will be in most demand

By Joshua Sadlock

NEW YORK, NY - JUNE 08: Pitcher Jacob deGrom #48 of the New York Mets looks in for a sign during an interleague MLB baseball game against the New York Yankees on June 8, 2018 at Citi Field in the Queens borough of New York City. Yankees won 4-1. (Photo by Paul Bereswill/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - JUNE 08: Pitcher Jacob deGrom #48 of the New York Mets looks in for a sign during an interleague MLB baseball game against the New York Yankees on June 8, 2018 at Citi Field in the Queens borough of New York City. Yankees won 4-1. (Photo by Paul Bereswill/Getty Images) /
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NEW YORK, NY – MAY 23: Pitcher Jacob deGrom #48 of the New York Mets puts on his jacket in the dugout after pitching in the 7th inning in an MLB baseball game against the Miami Marlins on May 23, 2018 at Citi Field in the Queens borough of New York City. Marlins won 2-1. (Photo by Paul Bereswill/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Jacob deGrom
NEW YORK, NY – MAY 23: Pitcher Jacob deGrom #48 of the New York Mets puts on his jacket in the dugout after pitching in the 7th inning in an MLB baseball game against the Miami Marlins on May 23, 2018 at Citi Field in the Queens borough of New York City. Marlins won 2-1. (Photo by Paul Bereswill/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Jacob deGrom /

1. Jacob deGrom

The great shame of the Mets shocking collapse is that they are wasting a historically-great season from right-handed starter Jacob deGrom. The 29-year-old has made 14 starts and has a 1.55 ERA, which leads the major leagues. deGrom also leads the big leagues with 0.4 home runs allowed per nine and is striking out 11.6 per nine, which blows his previous career high out of the water.

deGrom will be a free agent after the 2020 season, which could lower his trade value ever so slightly compared to Syndergaard. That makes him much more likely to be traded at the 2018 deadline. The Mets also have the added impetus to sell high on a pitcher who has already had Tommy John and battled injuries in 2016. Syndergaard’s value can still increase, but deGrom is at his ceiling.

The crosstown New York Yankees loom large as a potential landing spot for deGrom, and the Mets should not hesitate to sell him to the highest bidder, even within the Big Apple. They are not in the position to be worrying about the PR nightmare that will be trading a Cy Young candidate to the Bronx Bombers.

If there is one player the Mets need to focus on trading for maximum return this summer, it is deGrom. The rental pieces can be traded for minor returns — essentially lottery tickets that could develop into capable big leaguers. The real future hinges on the ability of a much-maligned front office to turn at least one of their aces into a motherlode of prospects.

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