Dodgers Express Interest in Mets Starter Noah Syndergaard

The hot stove is heating up. It has been reported that the Dodgers have expressed interest in Noah Syndergaard of the New York Mets. The Dodgers have the prospects to get a deal done, but the question is if they want to risk the future to acquire a player that is having a down year.

Syndergaard is almost guaranteed to be traded by the July 31 deadline. According to Buster Olney of ESPN, the Mets are not only listening to offers, but they want to move him. Since being called up in 2015, Syndergaard has spent his entire career as a member of the New York Mets. He was a key member of their world series run in 2015, where they ultimately fell to the Kansas City Royals. He holds a career 3.21 ERA, featuring a sinker and fastball that routinely touch 97-98 MPH, and three quality breaking pitches (curveball, slider, changeup) that generate swing and misses at a high rate. When Syndergaard has everything working for him, he is one of the most dominant pitchers in baseball. When he doesn’t, he tends to get roughed up. This season, aside from a few great starts, he hasn’t been his dominant self. He currently holds a 4.33 ERA through 20 starts. His strikeout and walk numbers are almost identical to what they were last season.

According to Marc Carig of The Athletic, trading for Syndergaard would require a top 30 prospect along with a couple other solid pieces. The Dodgers definitely have the assets to get a deal done if they feel it is worth it.

Impression is that trading for Noah Syndergaard would require a top 30 prospect and a couple of other solid pieces, one rival exec said earlier today.

— Marc Carig (@MarcCarig) July 25, 2019

Here are the positives with Syndergaard.

1. He is controllable. He is not a free agent until 2022, meaning he would be a fixture in the Dodgers rotation for years to come. Unlike the trade for Darvish in 2017, you don’t lose him after the season.
2. Syndergaard has shown the ability to be an ace. As mentioned earlier, when he is on, Syndergaard is one of the toughest pitchers to face in the league. He is 6 feet 6 inches, so he releases the ball on a downward angle towards the plate. This deceptive angle, combined with electric stuff, is very difficult on opposing hitters.
3. He has postseason experience.
4. An acquisition of a starting pitcher allows the Dodgers to move a current starter, like Maeda, to the bullpen. This improves both the starting rotation, and the bullpen, with one move.

Although a starting pitcher is not necessarily the most pressing need for the Dodgers, one of Syndergaard’s caliber would be a great addition to the rotation.

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