Here is the latest trade deadline buzz surrounding the Mets…
July 30, 12:29 p.m.
The Mets and Cubs remain “apart” on talks for Kris Bryant, reports Jon Heyman of MLB Network, who adds that Bryant could still wind up on the Mets.
However, Heyman suggests that Javier Baez could perhaps be more likely for New York.
SNY’s Andy Martino reported on Thursday that the Mets remained interested and in talks with the Cubs on Bryant and Baez –– the Mets have expressed interest in Bryant since the winter.
July 30, 11:56 a.m.
The Mets remain interested in trading for Colorado Rockies SS Trevor Story, reports Mark Feinsand of MLB.com, who lists the San Francisco Giants and Toronto Blue Jays as other teams with interest in Story.
Thomas Harding of MLB.com reported earlier Friday that the Mets and St. Louis Cardinals were among the teams in talks with the Rockies about Story.
SNY’s Andy Martino reported on Thursday that the Mets had interest in Story, but that the Yankees — after trading for Joey Gallo and Anthony Rizzo — were no longer a fit for him.
July 30, 9:09 a.m.
A combination deal sending Kris Bryant or Javier Baez and pitcher Zach Davies to the Mets is “one possibility,” reports Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, who notes that nothing is close at the moment.
SNY’s Andy Martino reported earlier this month that Davies could be a fit for the Mets.
In addition to Bryant and Baez, Colorado Rockies shortstop Trevor Story is still available.
July 29, 5:11 p.m.
The Mets are still trying to get Jose Berrios from the Minnesota Twins, but their asking price for the pitcher is still too high, SNY’s Andy Martino says.
July 29, 12:14 p.m.
Bryant and Anthony Rizzo are both out of the Chicago Cubs’ lineup for their 2:20 p.m. game against the Cincinnati Reds on Thursday.
The Mets remain a fit for Bryant, who is expected to be traded before the deadline.
New York is also a fit for Baez’s teammate, Javier Baez, who recently said he wants to join Francisco Lindor if he reaches free agency.
Along with the Mets, the San Francisco Giants are among the teams that have been linked to Bryant.
July 29, 8:03 a.m.
The Seattle Mariners are interested in trading for Berrios, but a deal is not close, reports Jon Morosi of MLB Network.
Per Morosi, Minnesota is seeking a top starting pitching prospect from the Mariners as part of a package, such as Emerson Hancock or George Kirby. Hancock and Kirby are both viewed as top 100 prospects in baseball, with Kirby more highly thought.
For the Mets, a similar pitching prospect might be Matt Allan, who is recovering from Tommy John surgery.
July 28, 5:26 p.m.
Mets acting GM Zack Scott was a guest on Carton & Roberts Wednesday afternoon, where he confirmed that a Mets trade for Nationals ace Max Scherzer is not on the table.
“Yeah, that’s not happening,” Scott said when asked about Scherzer.
Scott was asked if it was Scherzer himself who does not wanted to be traded to the Mets or if the Nationals don’t want to deal him within the division, to which he said it’s probably a bit of both.
“We’ll set expectations properly there,” Scott said. “He has a lot of control over where he goes … What was communicated to me, it sounds like, reading into it, it’s probably a little bit of both (Scherzer and the Nationals not wanting a trade with the Mets to happen).”
SNY MLB Insider Andy Martino previously reported that Scherzer would not waive his no-trade cause to go to the Mets, after an industry source said there was ‘no chance’ the Nats would deal Scherzer to New York.
July 28, 2:21 p.m.
The Colorado Rockies are open to trading RHP Jon Gray, with the Philadelphia Phillies, San Francisco Giants, and San Diego Padres among the suitors, reports Jon Morosi of MLB Network.
Per Morosi, a trade is not close and likely will not be completed until after Max Scherzer‘s situation is resolved.
Gray, who would be a good fit for the Mets, is a free agent after the season.
The Phillies remain on the hunt for starting pitching after their trade for Tyler Anderson fell apart on Tuesday– with Anderson then dealt to the Seattle Mariners.
July 28, 9:44 a.m.
The Minnesota Twins remain open to dealing RHP Jose Berrios before the deadline, and their “early ask” to the Mets was “at least two top-100 prospects or a top prospect and a pre-arbitration eligible major-leaguer,” per Dan Hayes of The Athletic.
A rumor last week had the Twins seeking a pre-arbitration big leaguer and two top 100 prospects, so that rumor was either off or the price has dropped a bit since.
The Twins have been inquiring about shortstop prospects and — if they trade Berrios — they’re more interested in adding prospects who can debut by 2023 than they are in adding lower level prospects.
Mets shortstop prospect Ronny Mauricio is expected to debut by 2023.
SNY’s Andy Martino reported on July 26 that the prospect cost for Berrios was simply too high at the moment, and that the Mets are not in pursuit of him.
July 28, 12:11 a.m.
After a would-be trade between the Pirates and Phillies stalled out due to medical issues on the Phillies’ end, Pirates lefty Tyler Anderson has been traded the Seattle Mariners in exchange for a pair of prospects.
The Mariners traded closer Kendall Graveman to Houston on Tuesday, but have now added to their rotation, the first pair of of what could be several moves for the M’s before the deadline.
July 27, 10:20 p.m.
The Chicago Cubs and San Francisco Giants have spoken about a possible deal involving Kris Bryant, according to MLB Network’s Jon Morosi.
Per Morosi, catching prospect Joey Bart‘s name has been included in talks, though Bart would likely only be available in deals that brought back Bryant and other players.
July 27, 5:55 p.m.
The Philadelphia Phillies are close to a trade for Pittsburgh Pirates LHP Tyler Anderson, per multiple reports. At least that was the report two hours ago.
According to The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal, there was a medical snag with “one of the two players going back to Pittsburgh,” and it’s unknown if that player will be replaced and where the talks currently stand.
The lefty was also spotted pitching in the Pirates’ bullpen ahead of their game Tuesday night, according to the Post-Gazette’s Jason Mackey.
MLB Network’s Jon Heyman added the cause for the delay is uncertain.
The Mets had been interested in Anderson but did not make a push to trade for him in advance of Tuesday’s game, reports SNY’s Andy Martino.
According to Jayson Stark of The Athletic, the Phillies were going to send two “second-tier” prospects to the Pirates in the deal.
July 27, 2:49 p.m.
Roughly 14 teams have called the Washington Nationals to inquire about Max Scherzer, reports Jon Heyman of MLB Network, who added that some of the teams who have called are “barely” in the playoff race.
Teams who are interested in Scherzer believe the Nationals are motivated to get a deal done by Thursday afternoon due to the potential need to work through Scherzer’s no-trade clause, per Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic.
The Mets, Tampa Bay Rays, Los Angeles Dodgers, and San Francisco Giants are among the teams that have been connected to Scherzer. However, SNY’s Andy Martino reports that a source says there’s “no chance” the Nats deal him to the Mets, citing not wanting to help a division rival.
July 27, 11:15 a.m.
The Mets remain interested in trading for Pittsburgh Pirates LHP Tyler Anderson, reports SNY’s Andy Martino.
Per Martino, it is probably too late to swing a trade for Anderson in time for him to start Tuesday night’s game against the Atlanta Braves at Citi Field — the Mets’ starter is currently TBA.
Martino added that Mets president Sandy Alderson has a very strong relationship with Pirates GM Ben Cherington.
Anderson, 31, has a 4.35 ERA (4.26 FIP) and 1.20 WHIP with 86 strikeouts in 103.1 innings over 18 starts this season for Pittsburgh.
He is earning $2.5 million this year and will be a free agent after the season.
July 27, 9:51 a.m.
The Tampa Bay Rays are interested in a pair of Mets targets, expressing interest in Kris Bryant and Max Scherzer, per Jeff Passan of ESPN.
According to Passan, the Rays have had “preliminary discussions” about both players, though the amount of money owed to Scherzer could impact whether Tampa is willing to pull the trigger.
Passan adds that the “smart money” is on a team in the NL West — potentially the Los Angeles Dodgers or San Francisco Giants — winding up with Scherzer.
July 26, 5:54 p.m.
Nationals ace Max Scherzer will not use his 10-5 rights to veto a potential trade from Washington and is open to moving on from the team, The Washington Post’s Jesse Dougherty reported Monday.
Scherzer could still use his veto power to steer the Nationals into the direction he wants to go if there ends up being multiple offers on the table, per Dougherty.
July 26, 11:12 a.m.
While the Mets are “all over” the market for starting pitchers and relievers, they are not currently in on Jose Berrios, reports SNY’s Andy Martino.
Per Martino, the prospect cost for Berrios is simply too high at the moment, and the Mets are not in pursuit of him.
A rumor last week had the Twins seeking a ton for Berrios — a pre-arbitration big leaguer and two top 100 prospects.
July 26, 9:14 a.m.
As the Minnesota Twins entertain offers for right-hander Jose Berrios and other starting pitchers, the team “needs up-the-middle position players,” reports Jon Morosi of MLB Network.
Morosi lists the Toronto Blue Jays as a potential trade fit with the Twins since Toronto has middle infield prospects such as shortstops Austin Martin and Orelvis Martinez.
Martin is currently the No. 12 prospect in baseball, per Keith Law of The Athletic’s new Top 50 list, and it’s hard to see any team giving that caliber of prospect up for just a year and change of Berrios.
Law has Martinez ranked No. 40, which is more in the wheelhouse of the kind of player who might headline a deal for Berrios. And if Martinez is a fit for the Twins, it’s fair to argue that Mets shortstop prospect Ronny Mauricio (ranked No. 36 by Law) would also be a fit.
July 25, 10:05 p.m.
With the Washington Nationals in a freefall, the possibility of them trading ace Max Scherzer has risen, and SNY’s Andy Martino reports that the Mets will inquire about his availability.
Per Martino, outside executives are skeptical that the Nats would deal Scherzer within the NL East, but the Mets plan to investigate.
Scherzer is set to become a free agent after the season.
As a player with 10-and-5 rights (10 years in the league, five with the same team), Scherzer has the ability to veto any trade.