New York Mets: 3 Ideal Trade Partners for R.A. Dickey

The NL Cy Young Award winner might be dealt in the coming days
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Before signing with the New York Mets, R.A. Dickey was treading water at the Major League level, finding little success in Texas, Minnesota or Seattle with his knuckleball. 

Now, after three seasons in New York and one National League Cy Young Award, Dickey was hoping to end his career with the team that gave him another chance and put him in a position to have the massive success that he has had. 

However, the knuckleballer and the Mets don't seem to be in agreement on a contract extension and Dickey has threatened to leave in free agency if one is not worked out by spring training. 

Since the two sides seem unable to work out a deal, the Mets could be inclined to deal their 38-year-old ace. Who are the best fits for a trade of the reigning Cy Young award winner?

Texas Rangers

Martin Perez could spark the Mets' interest
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R.A. Dickey started his major league career in Texas as a traditional pitcher who was derailed by injuries and forced to reinvent himself throwing the knuckleball. As Texas loses Ryan Dempster and has lost aces Cliff Lee and C.J. Wilson in consecutive seasons, they could be interested in Dickey. 

Texas seems inclined to trade power-hitting corner infielder Mike Olt in any trade for a front-line starter as well as young left-hander Martin Perez. Both have tremendous upside, but Perez struggled in triple-A and Olt would have nowhere to play in Queens with Ike Davis and David Wright as the current incumbents on the corners. 

Texas would be highly unlikely to deal Elvis Andrus (or uber-prospect Jurickson Profar for that matter) and without either of those two players, Jon Daniels and Sandy Alderson would probably fail to come to an agreement. The interest and pieces are there, but an agreement between these two clubs is unlikely. 

Los Angeles Angels

The Mets are in the market for a center fielder
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The Angels are perhaps the best fit for a deal with the Mets for Dickey. Dickey would fit in at the top of the rotation behind either Jered Weaver or C.J. Wilson and would hopefully bring stability to a rotation that severely underperformed last season. 

In return, the Angels have some expendable pieces that would deeply interest the Mets.

Currently, they have Mark Trumbo, Josh Hamilton, Peter Bourjos and Mike Trout to play three outfield positions. We all know Trout isn't going anywhere and Hamilton was just signed, so that leaves Trumbo and Bourjos. 

The Mets' current starting outfield would include Lucas Duda, Kirk Nieuwenhuis and Mike Baxter. Both Trumbo and Bourjos would be great fits in New York. Bourjos would give the Mets a plus defender in the spacious Citi Field center field and Trumbo would provide power to a relatively anemic lineup. 

Either Trumbo or Bourjos as centerpieces of an R.A. Dickey deal should greatly interest the Mets. Both are young, major league ready and are great fits for their current needs. 

Toronto Blue Jays

Young catchers with high offensive potential are hard to come by
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Reportedly, the Toronto Blue Jays and the Mets are very close on an R.A. Dickey trade that would bolster the Blue Jays rotation even more after already adding Josh Johnson and Mark Buehrle this offseason. 

The trade would send top Toronto prospect in catcher Travis D'Arnaud to New York, who would presumably start right away in place of the weak-hitting Josh Thole. 

D'Arnaud is arguably the most valuable trade chip that the Mets could could conceivably receive in return for their ace, and don't be surprised if this deal is finalized later today or by the end of the weekend.