TODAY: Niese is just “one of many” arms that Los Angeles has some interest in, Rosenthal writes on Twitter, and there are “no active discussions” ongoing between the Dodgers and Mets.
YESTERDAY: The Dodgers are interested in Mets starter Jon Niese, sources tell Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports (via Twitter). Just yesterday, Rosenthal reported that the Cubs have also considered dealing for the left-hander.
Niese isn’t quite a world-beater, but he does hold some value as a back of the rotation option. So far this year, he has a 4.12 ERA and 6.3 K/9 against 2.9 BB/9 in 14 starts. Those numbers are a beat behind his career numbers (3.89 ERA with 7.1 K/9 and 2.7 BB/9), but his xFIP of 3.85 this season indicates that he has encountered a bit of bad luck in 2015.
Performance aside, Niese’s contract could have a negative impact on his trade value. The 28-year-old is scheduled to make $9MM in 2016 plus a $500K buyout or $10MM option in 2017. As for this year, he’ll earn the prorated portion of $7MM, which is not wholly unreasonable.
After the draft concluded, it was reported that the Mets would turn their attention to dealing a starting pitcher. With lefty Steven Matz now in the fold, the Mets’ starting pitching situation has gotten even more crowded, and moving Niese could help alleviate that logjam while improving the team’s struggling offense.
Last week, Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman told reporters that despite their recent offensive woes, he sees the acquisition of bats as a “lower priority” to adding arms to the rotation.
Would Guerrero be a fair return?
only if we’re talking about Pedro
Even with his weird contract, i doubt they’ll trade guerrero. He’s key off the bench unless you want to include a better pitcher.
who’s more likely? Guerrero or Van Slyke.
Rollins..
Plus another lower level player, that actually makes some sense.
Rollins for Neise would be fine for me. Niese can help add depth for the back end of the rotation not only for this season, but also next year (when Ryu and McCarthy will be coming off of surgery) and maybe a change of scenery will help Rollins and give the Mets an upgrade at SS.
The Dodgers can call up Seager to play SS and use Kike Hernandez as his back up.
I like the idea, especially since Rollins is not going to garner a qualifying offer from the Dodgers so he doesn’t bring much value in holding on to him for the season.
Moving Rollins makes sense for the Dodgers since he hasn’t played well. He makes no sense for the Mets, a team with two SS playing better than Rollins this year in Tejada and Flores.
I was thinking more like Callaspo and Heisey.
Maybe Barney!
Heisey lol… Van slyke can get a better return than that. He hits well against left handed pitching. LA won’t give up much for a pitcher like that.
It’s doubtful that a career platoon player with limited playing opportunities and a laundry list of injuries (Van Slyke) could get much more than Niese in a trade.
A career platoon player??? Yea right…. He’s been in the league for merely 4 years. And in his four years so far, he has a .270 BA and an OBP of about .360. He’s also only 28 and not a free agent till 2020 under a very cost controlled contract. So actually yes, he’ll bring back a better return than just Neise.
With the money he’s making as a back-end starter, you’ll be lucky to find someone who will take on the contract with virtually nothing in return.
Bidding war!! The perfect storm…
Mets might look to get Callaspo and Heisey from the Dodgers, as for the Cubs they could get Olt, and Alcantara. That would help them at 2nd and 3rd. I don’t think they could get a front line player for Niece.
Niese cleared waivers last August, so no one was willing to take him for free. His value hasn’t changed much; if anything, it has gone down.
Why would the Cubs give up Olt and Alcantara unless the Mets were willing to pay almost all of Niese’s salary?
Alcantara is still a stretch for Niese because of his contract.. Olt I can see though..
Callaspo and Heisey obtaining Neise would represent 3 too-expensive players who are redundant to a team requiring similar positions.
Interesting proposal.
Alcantará would be a great get for the Mets. He’s basically Eric Young Jr. with a bit more upside – a useful piece for the team. Olt wouldn’t make much sense. Callaspo and Heisey are terrible at baseball; no idea why you think it would make sense for the Mets to acquire them.
I doubt they’ll get something good. It’s not like niese is all that good either. Cubs are high in every player they have, so are the dodgers. He’s contract isn’t that cheap either.
If the Mets weren’t so cheap they could go after Either!
The Mets should have been going after Either in the off season instead of signing Cuddyer.. They could have had him pretty much for free with the Dodgers picking up a good chunk of salary.. Plus, they would not have lost a good draft pick in that scenario.. Signing Cuddyer like they did will always baffle me.. Why he turned down the QO to accept a 2 year deal for only a few million more to go from the best hitters park to a pitchers park baffles me as well.. I know he is a friend of Wright’s but that move was dumb on both sides..
Explain why they need an expensive platoon RF with poor defense. They’ve already got a better version of the same player in Granderson.
How about CJ Wilson for Guerrero straight up. Or a package of Van Slyke and Guerrero for Wilson and Cam Bederosian or a minor leaguer. With Crawford do back Van Slyke is odd man out.
Niese for Rollins seems fair.
Not sure why the Mets would want someone markedly worse than what they already have at SS. Regardless of what Niese is worth, Rollins is a downgrade.
Niese for Rollins. Kike or Alex G take over at short until Seager is done developing
The Mets have two shortstops better than Rollins. Why would they want to downgrade?
What?!?! The Dodgers are interested in a pitcher? Crazy.
Hamels,Sandoval to Dodgers,Lee,Anderson,Gurrero,Van Slyke to Phil’s and Barney and second Tier Propects to Red Sox?
Lohse,Garza to Dodgers,Zobrist,Gennett to Royals,Lee,Anderson,Barney,Starling blocked by Cain and would replace Gomez if he is Traded to Brewers and to A’s Mariot,Marin blocked by Perez,Brooks and so on?
The sad part is that with Alderson as the General Manager, Neise will still be a Met. This guy is a clown! Look at the scraps he has put on the field now, Campbell? Flores? The signing of Cuddyer and Granderson? And look at how long he has sat on his hands and done nothing to replace David Wright who still doesn’t know if he is coming back this year or anytime. Sad to say Met fans, the Wilpons, Alderson and MLB is screwing the Met fans!