Trade winds are beginning to blow harder and harder around the game. And the Mets appear to be exploring multiple ways to improve their sub-competitive offense ahead of the July 31 trade deadline.
Here is the latest from CBS Sports/MLB Network’s Jon Heyman on the Mets and their search for bats:
- Padres scouts are said to be watching the Mets minor league system, which raises speculation about possible interest in OF Justin Upton. Upton is a great fit for the Mets both in the short and long-term, but can be a free agent at the end of the year, meaning if he’s moved, he is ineligible to receive a qualifying offer if he elects free agency after the World Series.
- The Mets are not enamored with Brewers SS Jean Segura despite Jon Morosi of FOX Sports saying on Friday the club is talking to the Brewers about a possible deal involving the 25-year-old shortstop.
- They have the same sentiments as well as Cubs SS Starlin Castro, who is owed $41 million through 2020. Castro, 25, has been below league average at shortstop defensively and has posted a -0.5 WAR in 2015 while hitting .251 with five home runs and 27 RBI. However, Castro’s 583 hits since 2012 are the fifth-most during that span.
- Regarding diminished Dodgers SS Jimmy Rollins, a Mets executive told Heyman they, “wouldn’t go there.”
- Despite improved an improved performance over the last month, the industry is not particularly intrigued with Jon Niese.
- The Mets had been thought to be progressing on a deal for A’s utility player Ben Zobrist. Joel Sherman of the New York Post said last week Alderson’s interests are high enough in the soon-to-be free agent that the club would consider an above-market value deal for the super-utility player. But for now, A’s GM Billy Beane is not currently making Zobrist available, according to Sherman.
For details on Upton, check out Rich MacLeod’s story from yesterday, which includes four other outfielders the Mets could consider.
For more on Segura, check out this post from Friday morning.
Just Mets 