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When the Marlins traded Jose Reyes and Josh Johnson to Toronto last November, Mets officials began asking one another questions that remain in their minds today: Can we get Giancarlo Stanton? Would we trade Zack Wheeler to do it?
According to three team sources, the Mets then spent time at the winter meetings debating whether to make Wheeler available in a variety of trades, including for Arizona’s Justin Upton and Kansas City’s Wil Myers. Neither of those outfielders seemed worth the organization’s top pitching prospect, but Stanton is in a different category.
Although they do not know if the Marlins will move him (Miami declined to shop Stanton even after the outfielder Tweeted about being “pissed off” after the Reyes trade), the Mets continue to monitor the situation, fully realizing that any deal would almost certainly have to include Wheeler and top catching prospect Travis d’Arnaud.
Would you trade those blue chippers for a guy who might become the premier slugger of his generation? I say, hell yes, duh, no brainer, but let’s hear from people whose opinions actually matter. “In a heartbeat,” said one Mets official, who is not in Alderson’s inner-circle of decision-makers, but has a voice in discussions. The guy then snapped his fingers. “Nothing against those kids, but it’s Giancarlo.”
Said another Mets official, also not in the top tier of decision-makers: “If you could do that, you would have to. You trade the pitcher for the everyday player almost every time.”
And what about d’Arnaud, the catcher of the future acquired in December for Cy Young Award-winner R.A. Dickey? “You can figure the catching out later,” the official said. “You have John Buck now, and hey, Brian McCann is going to be a free agent.” Added a scout familiar with the players in this still-fictional deal: “Wheeler and d’Arnaud for Stanton? I would say the Mets might have to give up more than that.”
I don't know how I feel about this. I love Stanton, but a good catcher is hard to come by and I don't picture the Mets ponying up the money for both Stanton and to sign McCann. I like d'Arnaud, but I REALLY like Wheeler, and I think the Mets would be much better off trying to string together a rotation of Harvey, Wheeler, Niese for the future. Then of course, they really do need a good power bat from the outfield, and getting Stanton would make a solid middle of the lineup.