Mets trade Steven Matz to Blue Jays for package of prospects

The Mets and Blue Jays have a trade in place for Steven Matz.

A trade between the two sides was reported by FanSided’s Robert Murray. Matz, who has been rather inconsequential in the Mets rotation the past few seasons, is getting a fresh start north of the border.

Matz had an astronomical ERA in 2020, notching a 9.68 mark combined with an 0-5 record. He was clearly a weak link in New York’s rotation that already includes Jacob deGrom and Noah Syndergaard.

The question for Mets fans is simple: Does this mean Steve Cohen is going all in for Trevor Bauer?

What did the Mets get in return for Matz?

Per Jeff Passan, the Blue Jays are sending three prospects back to New York in exchange for the 29-year-old lefty. The package includes three pitching prospects — Sean Reid-Foley, Yennsy Diáz and Josh Winckowski. The latter two are the Nos. 26 and 27 ranked prospects in the Blue Jays system, per MLB Pipeline’s rankings from last season. The new rankings will come out in just a few weeks.

At his best, Matz can be a capable mid-rotation starter. In 2019, his near-4 ERA is what the Mets had come to expect from him. Factor in that he’s a rare breed in a lefty, and can break up a rotation of nearly all right-handed pitchers, and his value for Toronto is a little more clear.

The Mets, meanwhile, appear to be aiming for another big move in free agency. Whether that’s Bauer, or they cleared Matz’s $5 million in salary for other reasons, remains to be seen.