Report: Mets won't trade deGrom, Syndergaard

The New York Mets will not trade All-Star starting pitchers Jacob deGrom and Noah Syndergaard before Tuesday's deadline, and starter Zach Wheeler likely will be kept as well, according to an ESPN report.

Per ESPN's Buster Olney, the Mets don't want to rebuild and intend to contend next year, giving them no incentive to deal deGrom or Syndergaard. They have also maintained a high asking price for Wheeler, who appears likely to remain in New York as a result.

The Mets (44-59) have made several other moves that indicate they are planning for next season. They traded reliever Jeurys Familia (to the Oakland Athletics) and infielder Asdrubal Cabrera (to the division rival Philadelphia Phillies) in the past 10 days, and outfielder Yoenis Cespedes was shut down last week for eight to 10 months to have surgery on both heels.

However, a full teardown does not appear likely, as New York will keep the core of its rotation intact for now. Wheeler has one more year of arbitration remaining on his contract, while deGrom has two and Syndergaard has three.

Wheeler, 28, is 5-6 with a 4.11 ERA in 20 starts this season, a step forward from 2017, which was his first season back after missing two full seasons due to Tommy John surgery. He finished 3-7 with a 5.21 ERA last year.

DeGrom, 30, is also 5-6 despite a major-league-best 1.82 ERA in 21 starts this season. He has 164 strikeouts against 32 walks in 138 1/3 innings, and he made his second career All-Star appearance earlier this month.

Syndergaard, who turns 26 in August, has been limited to 13 starts this season due to injury, but he has gone 6-1 with a 2.89 ERA. The ERA is exactly in line with his career figure through four seasons in the majors.

--Field Level Media