The Mets and Blue Jays have been closing in on a deal involving R.A. Dickey this weekend and today might be the day that everything is finalized. At present, the deal looks like three-for-four trade with Dickey, Josh Thole, and a Mets prospect going to the Blue Jays for Travis d'Arnaud, Noah Syndergaard, John Buck, and a prospect. Here's a look at some of the early reaction to the near deal..
- Evaluators around baseball are beyond shocked that Toronto is talking about trading d'Arnaud for a player with one year on his contract in Dickey, according to Buster Olney of ESPN.com (Twitter links). The broad perception in the industry is that if the Mets pull off the deal, it's an incredible trade for them.
- The combination of Syndergaard and d'Arnaud seems like an overpay by the Blue Jays unless they can get Dickey to sign an extension and also land a quality prospect in the deal, tweets Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports.com. Rosenthal adds that he wants to see the full deal before making a judgement on it, but Joel Sherman of the New York Post reported yesterday that neither prospect in the deal will be an elite one.
- The trade may not be popular amongst fans of either team, but its a smart move for both clubs, Sherman opines. Sherman writes that Dickey's stock is at its peak and d'Arnaud and Syndergaard are the right kind of return on investment.
- One scout says the Mets should at have some concern about the posterior collateral ligament injury that sidelined d’Arnaud for much of last season, writes Mike Puma of the New York Post. “It’s not great for catchers, but nowadays they do a super job rehabbing these injuries and he’s young,” the scout said. “I like the bat along with the defense. I could see him as maybe a catcher and first-base combo.”
