The Boston Red Sox are reportedly out on trading for New York Mets right-handed pitcher Zack Wheeler ahead of the trade deadline.
Last week, Andy Martino of SNY reported that the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox were competing for the chance to obtain Zack Wheeler. All signs point to the New York Mets trading Wheeler who will become a free agent at the end of the season.
Now, Martino is reporting that the Red Sox are out on trading for Wheeler.
“When the Sox acquired righty starter Andrew Cashner from Baltimore on Saturday, it left rivals to wonder if that took them out of the Wheeler sweepstakes,” Martino wrote. “That does turn out to be the case: According to major league sources, Boston is out on Wheeler now. With Cashner on board, the Sox expect to now look for bullpen help.”
According to Martino, the Mets would deal Wheeler to the Yanks “if the offer enticed them.”
Thus far this season, Wheeler is 6-6 with an ERA of 4.69 through 19 starts for the Mets. While those numbers don’t paint a pretty picture, the advanced stats say Wheeler having one of the best seasons of his career.
Wheeler has posted the highest strikeout percentage and lowest walk percentage of his career. Moreover, his fielder independent pitching (FIP) is a respectable 3.66. He might be suffering from some tough luck in Flushing.
The Mets could look to move him in order to receive some bullpen help now or in the future. Their relievers have been brutal in 2019, as the bullpen is 28th in the MLB with a 5.50 ERA.
Along with Wheeler, the Mets could also move left-hander Jason Vargas and third baseman Todd Frazier. Rumors have also swept that right-handers Steven Matz and Noah Syndergaard could be moved before the deadline. But it appears likely that any team would have to make a ridiculous offer to land either Matz or Syndergaard.
