Mets aren’t getting what they would need for Syndergaard trade

Noah Syndergaard’s slim chances of getting traded may have become minuscule with the blockbuster deal that brought Robinson Cano and Edwin Diaz to the Mets.

Though general manager Brodie Van Wagenen has engaged several teams in trade discussions that involve the right-hander, the Mets are trying to win in 2019 — a fact that was underscored by their trade with the Mariners — and probably need Syndergaard if they are to accomplish that goal.

“The move of putting our chips on the table to some degree of how people characterize this deal, I think Noah Syndergaard is critical to what we’re trying to do now,” Van Wagenen said Tuesday at Citi Field. “It would have to be a very special circumstance for us to even consider moving Noah Syndergaard.”

The Padres, Rockies and Brewers are among the teams that have shown interest in Syndergaard, who isn’t eligible for free agency until after the 2021 season. If the Mets were to deal Syndergaard, the return likely would have to address multiple needs on the major league roster, and Van Wagenen hasn’t received acceptable proposals at that level, according to sources.

Last season Syndergaard went 13-4 with a 3.03 ERA in 25 starts.

“He’s a very important part of the team,” Mets COO Jeff Wilpon said. “Unless Brodie gets what he feels is more than fair, I don’t think he is going to make a deal or pull the trigger on that.”

Jacob deGrom, Zack Wheeler and Steven Matz will join Syndergaard to give the Mets a potentially dominant rotation next season. That foursome flourished in the second half of 2018 and was bolstered by Jason Vargas, who rebounded from a disastrous first half to pitch at an acceptable level. The Mets also have Seth Lugo and Robert Gsellman as possibilities for the rotation.

“This deal puts us in a position where now we want to build around this core,” Van Wagenen said. “Because now we’ve got the bullpen starting to shape behind [Syndergaard] and behind all the starters that can close out games for us.”

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