Mets: Steven Matz trade to Blue Jays frees up room for Trevor Bauer

The New York Mets have traded Steven Matz, and apart from the return some extra money is freed up to pay off a big pursuit.

The New York Mets and Toronto Blue Jays have been two of the most active teams this offseason, often mentioned in parallel as suitors for some big names. On Wednesday night they came together on a deal, with the Mets sending left-hander Steven Matz to Toronto for three pitching prospects (Sean Reid-Foley, Yennsy Diaz, Josh Winckowski)

Matz had a rough 2020 campaign, with a 9.68 ERA and 14 home runs allowed over nine starts (30.2 innings). The small sample and a weird season has to be noted, and Matz was far better in 2019 (4.21 ERA over 160.1 innings) and 2018 (3.97 ERA over 154 innings). Even last year, there were positives (10.6 K/9, a career-best 25.4 percent strikeout rate).

The Mets probably aren’t worried about what they got for Matz

The Mets are adding three right-handers who aren’t highly touted prospects into their pipeline. Reid-Foley and Diaz have pitched in the big leagues, with 71.2 innings over the last three seasons and one appearance respectively. Winckowski reached High-A ball in 2019.

Matz agreed to a one-year $5.2 million deal to avoid arbitration earlier this offseason. They acquired a comparable back of the rotation lefty, Joey Lucchesi, from the San Diego Padres, so Matz became a little superfluous and his salary can probably be allocated better elsewhere.

Payroll is not as huge a concern for the Mets anymore, as new owner Steve Cohen is willing to invest in winning. They are a prominent suitor for free agent Trevor Bauer, with little remaining competition left, and they may have an offer approaching record-setting average annual value ($36 million) out there to him.

In truth, shifting $5.2 million in 2021 payroll from Matz to possibly commencing their pursuit of Bauer isn’t all that significant if they get him on a multi-year deal. But it may impact the pursuit of another free agent, perhaps a centerfielder like Jackie Bradley Jr., with a little extra to offer on a possible one-year deal.