MLB Trade Rumors: Could The New York Mets Deal Matt Harvey? Contenders Are Eying NY Pitcher

The 2017 MLB season certainly hasn’t gone the way the New York Mets had hoped, as they have lost 32 of their first 56 games. Speculation that the team could trade some of their top players will likely increase if it becomes clear that the Mets won’t make the playoffs, and Matt Harvey’s name could be at the top of the list.

Harvey has made headlines this season, but not because of his outstanding play on the field. The right-hander was suspended in May for failing to show up to a game, and he’s putting up the worst numbers of his career. Harvey hasn’t been involved in any specific trade rumors regarding a possible deal, but that doesn’t mean teams around the league aren’t contemplating making New York an offer.

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“I’ve had a couple of contending teams say, ‘You know, we’re gonna keep following Matt Harvey.’ The Mets may say ‘absolutely no.’ But you might as well follow him for the time being,” longtime baseball writer Peter Gammons told WFAN’s Mike Francesa Tuesday afternoon.

Through 11 starts, Harvey has looked nothing like the pitcher that started the 2013 All-Star Game and was once considered one of baseball’s best young pitchers. He’s 4-3 with a 5.43 ERA and a 1.48 WHIP, having thrown seven innings in just one game this season.

Harvey’s 2016 campaign was ended prematurely when he underwent surgery to address nerve issues in his shoulder. He pitched to a 4.86 ERA in 17 starts before finally addressing the ailment.

It’s unknown if Harvey’s struggles are related to his recovery from the injury, though the Mets are hoping that he can turn his season around soon.

“If I’m the Mets, I wait until just about the All-Star break and see if all of a sudden it doesn’t start to click, that the mechanics get straightened out and everything falls in place for him again,” Gammons said. “But if it doesn’t, maybe you do think about it. I think it’s something you have to think seriously about.”

If Harvey is able to bounce back over his next couple of starts, the Mets could potentially get some value back for him in a trade. He went 13-8 with a 2.71 ERA when he was healthy in 2015, and he has one year of arbitration left before hitting free agency after the 2018 season.

With a staff full of young starting pitchers, the Mets won’t be able to keep all of them. Because of his recent struggles and issues off the field, Harvey might be the odd man out.

At this point, however, it’s hard to believe that New York would be able to get much in return for Harvey. He hasn’t been an elite pitcher in two years, and he’s never even made 30 starts in a season.

Considered to have a top starting rotation prior to the start of the season, the Mets’ staff has been one of the biggest disappointments in all of baseball. Only the Philadelphia Phillies and Cincinnati Reds have gotten a worse ERA from their starters. In 2016, New York ranked third in ERA among MLB rotations.

Starting pitcher Noah Syndergaard could miss three months with a partially torn lat, and Steven Matz missed the first two months with an injury. The Mets trail the Washington Nationals by 12.5 games for first place in the NL East.