MLB Insider Floats Trade of New York Mets' Verlander to NL Foe
Could the New York Mets actually be sellers at the trade deadline? It's certainly possible as they sit eight games under .500, 15 games back of the Atlanta Braves in the National League East and 8.5 games back of the final Wild Card spot.
For that, MLB insider Jim Bowden floated a trade idea, where the Mets deal ace pitcher Justin Verlander to the Los Angeles Dodgers.
"The Dodgers need another starting pitcher if they’re going to overtake the Diamondbacks and Giants and hold off the Padres in the NL West. As long as Justin Verlander (4.50 ERA, 1.212 WHIP in nine starts) pitches better over the next month or so, he should still have significant trade value, especially since he’s under team control through 2024 (with a vesting option for 2025)."
Verlander is making $43 million this season and next season as well. He also has a vesting option for 2025 of $35 million.
The Dodgers didn't spend much this past offseason and have struggled in their rotation beyond Clayton Kershaw. As long as Los Angeles is willing to take on Verlander's salary for this year and next then a trade with the Mets makes sense.
On the Mets end, they could cash into the Dodgers' rich farm system and pry away a top prospect or two in a deal for Verlander.
If the Mets are still well under .500 and way out of the Wild Card by next month, trading Verlander to the Dodgers could be a realistic scenario.
Since returning from the injured list in early-May, Verlander has not been himself, posting a 2-4 record, 4.11 ERA, 49 strikeouts and 1.228 WHIP across 57 innings in 10 starts.
But as long as he is healthy, the Dodgers could take a chance on acquiring him in hope that he recaptures his Cy Young-form.
