MLB rumors: Blue Jays-Mets Steven Matz trade hints at possible Trevor Bauer deal

Zack Scott hit the ground running Wednesday after being named New York Mets acting general manager, trading left-hander Steven Matz to the Toronto Blue Jays. And that could be just the beginning.

Already considered the “favorites” to sign right-hander Trevor Bauer, the New York Post’s Joel Sherman hinted that Wednesday’s Matz could be the precursor to the free agent putting ink to paper with the Mets.

#Mets cut at SP depth. Have deGrom, Carrasco, Stroman, Peterson and Lucchesi, with Syndergaard due back a few months into the season. Can still keep Gsellman/Lugo stretched out OR is this a prelude to Bauer?

New York Post colleague Mike Puma reports that with the Matz trade, “the payroll deduction could also help in trying to keep the team under the luxury-tax threshold of $210 million, should they reach agreement with last year’s National League Cy Young award winner.”

The Mets extended an offer to Bauer almost two weeks ago, according to a source, and have awaited his decision. The Dodgers and Angels have also been linked to Bauer, who figures to receive a deal north of $30 million annually. The Mets are believed to be offering Bauer at least four years, but also something far less than the eight years he was seeking. The offer could also include opt-outs.

As for the Angels, The Los Angeles Times’ Maria Torres reports that “unless there is a significant philosophical shift … the likelihood of signing top free-agent starter Trevor Bauer is practically zero.”

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The 30-year-old Bauer is the best pitcher on the open market. He won the 2020 National League Cy Young Award after posting a career-best 1.73 ERA for the Cincinnati Reds.

Bauer has spent the offseason flirting with the Mets on social media, going out of his way to praise new owner Steve Cohen and the Mets’ fan base.

Side note: the Blue Jays are all-in on this season, adding Matz after signing George Springer to a six-year, $150 million contract and shortstop Marcus Semien to a one-year, $18 million deal

Here are the details of the Mets-Blue Jays trade:

The New York Mets (Wednesday) announced that they have acquired RHP Sean Reid-Foley, RHP Josh Winckowski and RHP Yennsy Díaz from the Toronto Blue Jays in exchange for LHP Steven Matz.

Reid-Foley, 25, was 1-0 with a 1.35 ERA (one earned run/6.2 innings) in five games in relief for the Blue Jays in 2020. The 6-3, 230-pounder was Toronto’s second-round selection in the 2014 First-Year Player Draft from Sandalwood High School (FL).

In parts of three seasons with the Blue Jays, Reid-Foley is 5-8 with a 4.40 ERA (35 earned runs/71.2 innings) with 76 strikeouts in 21 games, 13 starts.

Winckowski, 22, combined to go 10-8 with a 2.69 ERA (38 earned runs/127.1 innings) with Dunedin (A) of the Florida State League and Lansing (A) of the Midwest League in 2019. The 6-4, 202-pounder was the Blue Jays’ 27th-best prospect in 2020 according to MLB.com.

Winckowski is 18-17 with a 3.35 ERA (98 earned runs/263.0 innings) with 237 strikeouts in 54 games, 50 starts across four minor league seasons. He was Toronto’s 15th-round pick in the 2016 First-Year Player Draft out of Estero High School (FL).

Díaz, 24, made his major league debut in 2019, appearing in one game with Toronto. The 6-1, 210-pounder was 11-9 with a 3.74 ERA (60 earned runs/144.1 innings) and 116 strikeouts in 26 games, 24 starts for New Hampshire (AA) of the Eastern League in 2019. He was the Blue Jays’ 26th-best prospect in 2020 according to MLB.com.

Díaz is 34-26 with a 3.84 ERA (205 earned runs/481.0 innings) with 429 strikeouts in 96 games, 84 starts over five minor league seasons. He was originally signed as a non-drafted free agent by the Blue Jays in 2014.

Matz, 29, was 31-41 with a 4.35 ERA (280 earned runs/579.2 innings) over six seasons with the Mets. He made three starts during the 2015 postseason, posting a 3.68 ERA (six earned runs/14.2 innings). Matz was New York’s 2020 nominee for the Roberto Clemente Award. It was the third time he was nominated for the prestigious award.

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