Noah Syndergaard Trade Rumors: Mets Looking at Patrick Corbin, More If Ace Dealt

Jason DeCrow/Associated Press

The New York Mets are not necessarily looking to tank the 2019 season if they trade starting pitcher Noah Syndergaard this winter.

Andy Martino of SNY.tv reported Monday that the team is thinking about trading Syndergaard and then replacing him with a major free agent on the open market. That would allow New York to recoup prospects for the right-hander to build for its future while not taking a step back in the present.

The Mets would likely net massive return for Syndergaard, a 26-year-old power arm who does not reach unrestricted free agency until 2022. 

Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reported the Mets are "intent" on improving their team both short term and long term. The Mets missed the playoffs each of the last two seasons.

COO Jeff Wilpon said when discussing Syndergaard, per Kevin Kernan of the New York Post: 

"A decision has not been made yet. It all depends on what [general manager] Brodie [Van Wagenen] thinks he can get back [in a trade]. If he thinks the return is outsized from what the value of Noah is, then I guess he'll suggest it, and we'll move on and do that. But it takes two [teams] to make a trade, and it would [have to be] pretty lopsided."

Syndergaard went 13-4 with a 3.03 ERA and 1.21 WHIP last season, bouncing back from an injury-plagued 2017 campaign. The only real concern was a slight dip in strikeout rate (down 3.3 percent to 24.1), though he replaced that with more ground balls and soft hits. Syndergaard's hard-hit rate was the lowest of his career, per FanGraphs.

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Regardless, it's going to take a massive package of MLB-ready prospects for the Mets to pull the trigger. 

The Mets could look to sign Patrick Corbin, J.A. Happ, Dallas Keuchel or Nathan Eovaldi in free agency, according to Martino.