Just Mets

After weeks, and in some cases months, of speculation, word around Major League Baseball is that the Mets are “really ramping” up their efforts to trade both Jon Niese and Dillon Gee, per Andy Martino.

“If I’m a GM, I’m starting by asking for Matz or Syndergaard, to see how desperate Sandy is,” a rival executive recently told Martino.

With Daniel Murphy being place on the disabled list on Friday, the need for the Mets to acquire offense has become the forefront of their needs now more than ever. Kristie Ackert recently reported that Aramis Ramirez and Ben Zobrist are two infielders that the Mets have shown interest in.

Dillon Gee (4.46 ERA) has been the subject of trade rumors for months, and has been jerked around from starting rotation to the bullpen and back again, all while just returning off of the disabled list this past week.

Jon Niese (4.42 ERA) got off to a strong start this season but has pitched woefully of late, posting a 6.60 ERA in his last five starts, and allowing four or more earned runs in the last four straight. Niese is owed $9M in 2016 and has a $10M option (with a $500,000 buyout) in 2017, while being paid whatever he is still owed of the $7M he’s making this season.

It has yet to be seen if the Mets would try to package Gee and Niese together, what they’d be looking to get in return and if there are even any takers out there, but this will certainly be a situation to keep an eye on in the coming days and possibly weeks.