MLB Scouts Predict Zack Wheeler Will End Up With Astros by Trade Deadline

The New York Mets currently own the starting pitcher market at the trade deadline.

The major question now is: where does Zach Wheeler go?

The scouts say it is going to be Wheeler to the Houston Astros. However, those same scouts were caught off guard when the Mets landed Marcus Stroman on Sunday.

Wheeler certainly seems like the logical pitcher to trade, but Mets GM Brodie Van Wagenen certainly does not conform to what other people think. Wheeler has had some tough luck which has led to a 4.71 ERA, but that is not limiting the demand for his services.

The Astros feature a dominant trio of Gerrit Cole, Justin Verlander and Wade Miley at the top of the rotation, but little to nothing after that. Brad Peacock was a good fourth starter, but the quickest he will return is mid-August.

His replacements have not faired well. The Astros top three have combined for an ERA of 2.95, while every other starter outside of Peacock has an ERA of 6.37. Wheeler would fit in very well to the fourth starter spot and showed he can pitch like a Cy Young contender in the second half of 2018.

The Mets certainly will not land the likes of a top tier prospect like Forrest Whitley, but adding any of the pitchers in the middle of their top 30 list should be considered a fair trade. Van Wagenen has the leverage here, and if he does not like the return, he can simply keep Wheeler.