MLB trade rumors: Mets selling Zack Wheeler, Jose Bautista, Wilmer Flores? Yankees buying?

The New York Mets might trade right-hander Zack Wheeler, catcher Devin Mesoraco, third baseman Jose Bautista and infielder Wlmer Flores before the non-waiver deadline on Tuesday, July 31, 2018 (7/31/18) at 4 p.m. Would Yankees general manager Brian Cashman make a call?

The Mets have less than eight hours to chart their course for the rest of the season, and for perhaps 2019 as well.

New York has three top-notch pitchers it could trade before Tuesday’s deadline: Jacob deGrom, Noah Syndergaard and Zack Wheeler.

Contenders like the Yankees will only be able to dream of landing an ace like deGrom or Syndergaard because New York seems intent on holding on to them. But Wheeler is definitely in play, as are several Mets position players: catcher Devin Mesoraco, third baseman Jose Bautista and shortstop Wilmer Flores.

Trade deadline day. Wheeler is still here. Mesoraco, Bautista and Flores are available. Sounds more and more like Wheeler will stay and the others will be available for August waiver deals.

— Mike Puma (@NYPost_Mets) July 31, 2018

The Yankees are one of several teams which could be interested in Bautista:

yankees are looking for a righty bat and at some pint spoke to the mets about jose bautista. mets don’t view joey bats as a giveaway due to how well he’s played in queens (124 ops plus), and yankees-mets trades are hard. so it’s not extremely likely to happen.

— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) July 31, 2018

Bautista is hitting .216 this season with eight home runs and 29 RBI. But the 37-year-old right-handed slugger has 339 career home runs.

The Mets already indicated their willingness to sell before the 4 p.m. non-waiver trade deadline, sending second baseman Asdrubal Cabrera to the Phillies.

The Mets are in fourth place in the National League East, 12.5 games behind the first-place Phillies.

Trading deGrom or Syndergaard would indicate the team is planning a long-term rebuild. Flipping Wheeler before the deadline would indicate the team thinks it can regroup for next season.

Trade deadline: LIVE updates

Wheeler pitched Sunday for the Mets, throwing six shutout innings in a 1-0 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Wheeler is getting hot at the right time. He’s won his last three starts, giving up a total of six runs in 20.2 innings pitched.

For the season, Wheeler is 5-6 with a 4.11 ERA in 20 starts.

Mike Rosenstein may be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @rosenstein73. Find NJ.com on Facebook.