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Why potential Steven Matz trade to
Yankees makes no sense for Mets
Steven Matz AP file photo
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TIMESLEDGER | QNS.COM | MARCH 6-MARCH 12, 2020 33
SPORTS
BY JOE PANTORNO
Linking Mets pitchers to the
Yankees has become something
of a tradition in recent years.
Two years ago, it was Jacob
deGrom and Noah Syndergaard,
last year, it was Syndergaard
and Wheeler.
This year, it’s Steven Matz.
Mike Puma and Ken Davidoff
of the New York Post reported
on Monday that the Mets and
Yankees “have spoken about
potentially moving Matz to the
Bronx,” before Opening Day.
The Yankees have already
suffered major hits to their
starting-pitching depth this offseason,
prompting such reported
conversations.
James Paxton was slated to
miss two-to-three months after
undergoing back surgery in
early February before Luis Severino
was lost for the season as
he needs Tommy John surgery.
The Yankees still have the
trio of Gerrit Cole, Masahiro
Tanaka, and JA Happ to pace
the rotation with Jordan Montgomery
slated in as the No. 4
starter for now. But the fifth option
of the bunch leaves plenty to
be desired with choices including
Jonathan Loaisiga, Deivi
Garcia, Michael King, and Nick
Nelson.
Loaisiga is the only arm that
has prior MLB experience.
An inquiry for Matz is a logical
course of action taken by the
Yankees. The 28-year-old southpaw’s
spot in the Mets’ rotation
is very much up in the air as he
battles for the fifth spot with Michael
Wacha, who was acquired
alongside Rick Porcello in free
agency to provide the Mets with
rotational depth.
Matz has finally been able to
put health issues aside and has
started 60 games over the past
two seasons, posting a 4.09 ERA
with a strikeout-to-walk ratio of
2.77.
Not overwhelming numbers,
but one that could at least keep a
rotation like the Yankees’ afloat
for the season until Severino
comes back. He is under team
control through the 2021 season
before hitting unrestricted free
agency.
Putting the novel concept of
Matz to the Yankees aside, this
is a deal that doesn’t make much
sense to the Mets.
Wacha and Porcello have
given the Mets other starting
options, yes, but trading away
a pitcher that has averaged 30
starts over the past two seasons
depletes that all-important
depth — especially if injuries
strike. And the Mets are all
too familiar with seeing their
starters go down over the past
decade.
If the Mets hypothetically
traded Matz and one of their remaining
starters go down, suddenly
the team will be forced
with moving one of their recently
converted bullpen arms like
Robert Gsellman or Seth Lugo
back into the rotation.
For a Mets bullpen that was
the Achilles heel of a team that
was in wild-card contention,
a shakeup like that is the last
thing they would need.
There is also the notion that
the Yankees don’t have anything
that the Mets truly need
in a trade.
Puma and Davidoff noted
that the Mets would be looking
for a major-league ready player
— most notably Miguel Andujar.
But that would be a price
too high for the Yankees to consider.
Especially when Andujar
is slated to be the team’s Opening
Day designated hitter after
Giancarlo Stanton injured his
calf.O
ther possible trade candi-
dates like Clint Frazier would
just add another name to the log
jam of corner outfielders within
the Mets’ roster.
So for now, don’t expect the
16-year trade drought between
the Mets and Yankees to end
anytime soon.
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