MLB trade rumors: Mets keep Jacob deGrom, Zack Wheeler; Can’t find buyers for Jose Bautista, Wilmer Flores

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?

UPDATE (4:02 p.m.): The Mets did nothing before the deadline:

The trade deadline has passed. The Mets made no additional deals today.

Zack Wheeler stays. Devin Mesoraco stays. Jose Bautista stays. And, yes, Jacob deGrom stays.

— Anthony DiComo (@AnthonyDiComo) July 31, 2018

Mickey Callaway says having “Zack Wheeler in our rotation makes us the best team we can possibly be this year, and moving forward.”

Says Wheeler’s teammates are “relieved” that he’s sticking around.

“We have a bright future. I think we all see that our rotation can be elite.”

— Anthony DiComo (@AnthonyDiComo) July 31, 2018

UPDATE (3:53 p.m.): Mets aren’t making a deal before the deadline:

Hear #Mets do not intend to make a trade b4 the 4 pm deadline

— Joel Sherman (@Joelsherman1) July 31, 2018

UPDATE (2:40 p.m.): Still nothing from the Mets:

Barring a last minute change mets are going to stay pat at deadline

— Rich Coutinho (@coutinho9) July 31, 2018

UPDATE (2:03 p.m.): No movement from the Mets:

a trade for zack wheeler seems to be increasingly unlikely. mets not hearing what they want to hear. market limited for joey bats, nonexistent for mesoraco. #mets

— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) July 31, 2018

UPDATE (10:07 a.m.): A  Wheeler deal would be “surprising”:

At this point would be very surprising if the Mets trade Zack Wheeler today.

— Andy Martino (@martinonyc) July 31, 2018

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 infielder 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.