If you were in charge of the New York Mets, would you trade Steven Matz to the Miami Marlins for Dee Gordon? Like it or not, it could happen.
Thursday, while a guest on WFAN’s “Beningo and Roberts” show, FanRag Sports’ Jon Heyman said that he believes the Miami Marlins would trade Dee Gordon to the New York Mets for Steven Matz.
On the surface, the idea of trading a 26-year-old starting pitcher for a second baseman set to celebrate his 30th birthday in April doesn’t make a whole lot of sense. But it’s really not as crazy as it sounds.
Matz simply can’t stay healthy enough to maximize all of his natural talent and upside. He was limited to only 13 ineffective starts in 2017 before undergoing season-ending elbow surgery.
But that doesn’t seem to have scared off the Marlins, who under the watchful eye of new part-owner Derek Jeter, are expected to trade away significant pieces of their roster, including Gordon.
Adding the veteran infielder to the mix would plug two holes for the Mets—one at second base, and one atop the lineup. In three of the past four seasons, Gordon has led the National League in stolen bases. The Mets haven’t had that kind of a base-stealing threat atop their lineup since Jose Reyes was in his prime.
Due $51 million through the 2020 season, including a $10.5 million salary in 2018, Gordon isn’t an inexpensive addition. But it’d cost the Mets just as much, if not more, to sign a free agent like Neil Walker, who they traded to the Milwaukee Brewers at the non-waiver trade deadline.
