MLB rumors: 5 trade targets for the Houston Astros
1. Zack Wheeler, SP, New York Mets
By manager Mickey Callaway’s own recent admission, the Mets (38-47 entering Tuesday, 12 games back in the NL East and 6.5 games back in the Wild Card race) will need a miracle to make the playoffs. Noah Syndergaard and Jason Vargas stand as starting pitchers who could be traded, but there’s a case for Wheeler to be the most coveted by contending teams.
Wheeler has a 4.51 ERA over 17 starts (107.2 innings; sixth in the NL) this season. But his peripherals are strong (9.6 K/9, 2.6 BB/9, 3.77 FIP) and he has delivered 10 quality starts while going at least six innings 14 times in his last 15 outings.
In the last year of his contract, and making a remarkably reasonable $5.975 million for that matter, Wheeler would be a rental for the Astros or any contender. But with the increased reinvention of Verlander pointing towards the team’s general ability to help pitchers find a new level, Houston could make a move for Wheeler and convince him to re-sign during the offseason. No matter what, Wheeler should be firmly on the Astros’ radar in the coming weeks.