The New York Mets’ starting rotation is falling apart before the season even begins.
Spring training has become a nightmare for the Mets, who’ve lost two projected starters to injury in less than a week. It’s the worst injury situation any team is facing right now, and it’s not even close.
Free-agent acquisition Frankie Montas went down with a lat strain last week, and now Sean Manaea is likely starting the season on the injured list with an oblique strain. What was supposed to be a solid rotation suddenly looks like a massive question mark.
The Mets are surely exploring external options. While they haven’t publicly panicked, losing multiple starters this early forces their hand.
One potential solution? Dylan Cease.
FanSided’s James Nolan suggested Monday that the Mets should revisit trade talks with the San Diego Padres for Cease, a pitcher they’ve shown interest in throughout the offseason.
“If Cease were to get traded to the Mets, they’d have an elite rotation once Manaea returns. Even without Manaea, they’d have a top rotation,” Nolan wrote.
“The only drawback with Cease is they’d have to give up prospects. Jett Williams, Drew Gilbert, Luisangel Acuña, or Brett Baty could intrigue the Padres. However, Stearns isn’t one to bank on giving up a haul for one year of control.”
Cease, 29, would immediately become the Mets’ ace or co-ace. He finished fourth in National League Cy Young voting last season with a 3.47 ERA and 224 strikeouts in 189 2/3 innings.
The way I see it, trading for Cease solves the immediate problem but creates a long-term dilemma. He’s only under contract through this season, and Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns has been hesitant to trade top prospects for rentals.
If they don’t make a big splash for Cease, the Mets will need to get creative – and fast. The rotation that looked solid enough a month ago now threatens to derail their season before it even begins.
