MLB trade rumors: Have Mets received calls for Jacob deGrom?

by Felix Pantaleón

The Jacob deGrom sweepstakes hasn’t truly heated up yet for the Mets and general manager Sandy Alderson. Will the ace be moved before the July 31, 2018 (7/31/18) non-waiver trade deadline? Will Yankees GM Brian Cashman make a run at the right-hander?

If the Mets pivot to becoming a true seller, tearing down a bad team and rebuilding for the future, a Jacob deGrom sweepstakes could ensue between now and the July 31 trade deadline.

Right now, that doesn’t appear in the cards.

Yet it’s one thing for the Mets to say that publically, but another for conversation behind the scenes to halt or never actually start. In this case, it seems that teams are respecting general manager Sandy Alderson’s stance–for now.

According to Jon Heyman of FRS Baseball, the Mets haven’t actually received a trade call for deGrom yet.

There’s no evidence to this point the Mets have any interest in trading deGrom (and one Mets person suggested teams were too polite to call so soon). But reality could set in soon.

Mets GM Sandy Alderson, who suggested he had no intention to sell a few weeks ago, now (fairly) says that the team will have to make a determination based on how the next few weeks go. He made this admission as the team headed for Atlanta, where they proceeded to lose the first two games. And by the way, things don’t get much easier.

Polite (or professionally courtesy) likely will only last so long.

DeGrom to Yanks?

As long as deGrom continues to dominate (14 starts, 87.1 IP, 113 SO, 1.55 ERA) and the Mets continue to lose (28-37, -46 run differential) in spite of his greatness, teams will circle around Queens like sharks and wait for a chance to get on the phone and make an offer for the 29-year-old starter.

DeGrom is likely staying put, but don’t be shocked if rumors start to shift in the coming weeks.

Joe Giglio may be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @JoeGiglioSports. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

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