The MLB trade market is starting to bussle.
The latest move has left all observers scratching their heads.
Fox Sports' Jon Morosi reported Sunday, through a source, that the New York Mets have agreed to acquire All-Star starter Marcus Stroman from the Toronto Blue Jays for two top pitching prospects.
Source: #BlueJays, #Mets in agreement on Marcus Stroman trade, pending exchange of medical information. @MLB @MLBNetwork— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) July 28, 2019
Several national and local outlets have since reported the trade is indeed happening.
Stroman himself tweeted what looks like a farewell to Toronto.
Sports
Toronto, I love you...forever! 🇨🇦— Marcus Stroman (@MStrooo6) July 28, 2019
The Mets, as of Sunday, are five games under .500 (50-55) and are six games out of a NL wild-card spot. They aren't exactly a contender, but they just made a move as if they were fighting for a playoff spot.
Stroman had been linked to several contenders over the last few days, but the Mets swooped in and snagged him.
Stroman going to the Mets could be a good thing for the Giants if they decide to trade ace Madison Bumgarner between now and the MLB trade deadline on Wednesday.
With Stroman off the board, teams like the Yankees, Twins, Braves and Astros have one less option to go after, so they could turn their attention to Bumgarner. If those contenders get desperate enough, they may be forced to increase their offer to president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi.
As for what the Blue Jays got in return for Stroman, The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal reported Sunday, citing sources, that the Mets are sending pitching prospects Anthony Kay and Simeon Woods-Richardson to Toronto. Those were the Mets' No. 4 and No. 6 prospects, respectively, according to MLB Pipeline.
That's likely the type of package Zaidi is hoping to get for Bumgarner, if not more. But Stroman is almost two years younger than Bumgarner and is under team control for the 2020 season. Bumgarner is a free agent at the end of this season, lowering his value because he's seen as a "rental" player.
While the Stroman deal could be good for the Giants, the next move by the Mets could be bad news for the Giants.
[RELATED: Giants in 'listening mode' on Bumgarner]
The New York Times' Bob Klapish reported Sunday the Mets will now look to trade Noah Syndergaard, although the team that has been linked to "Thor" the most is the San Diego Padres.
Told trading Syndergaard will be #Mets next move, not Wheeler. Makes sense.— Bob Klapisch (@BobKlap) July 28, 2019
Complicating matters is that the Giants won again on Sunday, defeating the Padres 7-6 in San Diego. With the victory, the Giants are now 54-52 and 2 1/2 games out of a NL wild-card spot.
