Mets Reportedly Exploring Zack Wheeler Extension Paired With Noah Syndergaard Trade

If you were hoping that your favorite team might sign Mets right-hander Zack Wheeler in free agency, you may be out of luck. For awhile now it's seemed as though Wheeler would be one of the Mets' starters on the move.

Now, a much different situation could unfold. After some recent struggles, Noah Syndergaard could be the one seeing his tenure with the Mets come to a close. In the event that the Mets do trade "Thor" before next week's deadline, Wheeler might stick around for longer than anyone could've expected.

An option #Mets are exploring, per sources: Trading Syndergaard and signing Wheeler to an extension. NYM would benefit from return for Syndergaard while keeping Wheeler, a quality starting pitcher who otherwise would depart in free agency. @TheAthleticMLB
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) July 25, 2019

Whatever the Mets decide to do with their starters, they need to act quick. The MLB trade deadline is six days away which means they'll need to find a suitor for Syndergaard sooner rather than later.

Like Rosenthal pointed out, the Mets could get a solid return for Syndergaard considering his past success. There's no shortage of options for pitching at the deadline and the Mets aren't going to let Thor go for less than he's worth.

? Zack Wheeler could accept a qualifying offer to return to the Mets

? At least 8 teams have called the Mets to check in on Noah Syndergaard

The latest from @martinonyc: https://t.co/PMp2ojpPYd pic.twitter.com/I0sHlq3W26
— SNY (@SNYtv) July 18, 2019

By the time we're past the deadline, the Mets pitching staff could look wildly different. In the event that Syndergaard and Edwin Diaz are dealt to new clubs, Wheeler could take over as the No. 2 starter in New York behind Jacob deGrom, and New York will feature a void in the back end of their bullpen.