Mets and Red Sox Have Reportedly Discussed a Trade Involving Zack Wheeler

With the New York Mets season firmly in the dumpster, they may finally be acknowledging that it's time to sell what few veteran trade chips they have and build for the future. Perhaps their most trade-able MLB asset is starting pitcher Zack Wheeler, who's shown flashes of brilliance but has never been consistent enough to earn a big contract extension.

According to the New York Post's Joel Sherman, the Mets have begun some preliminary discussions with the Boston Red Sox, a team which is openly in the market for rotation help.

The defending champion Red Sox (49-41) need to improve their starting rotation if they want to get back in the race for the AL East title. While Wheeler doesn't represent a significant statistical improvement over the rest of their starters, he is an attainable arm that would provide much-needed depth to what is a thin group in the absence of Nathan Eovaldi.

The 29-year-old has had an up-and-down 2019, much like the rest of his career. While he's shown the ability to dominate against clubs like the Phillies and Cubs, he's also put up some truly abysmal performances, including his most recent start in which he allowed 6 earned runs en route to a loss on Sunday.

The Red Sox have been buyers at the trade deadline nearly every year in recent memory, and as a result they have depleted resources on the farm; they're in the bottom five of almost every farm system ranking out there.

Still, the Mets front office is well-acquainted with their prospects and could potentially attain some pieces to bolster their own poor minor league depth.

If New York wants to compete in 2020, trading Wheeler is a no-brainer.