Chicago Cubs: Six potential starting pitching trade targets

Chicago Cubs: Noah Syndergaard

I wrote previously in a column about potential blockbuster trades about the possibility of a Chicago Cubs trade with the New York Mets involving Noah Syndergaard and Kris Bryant. Whether the Cubs make Bryant available this offseason or not, Syndergaard will be one of the biggest, if not the biggest, starting pitching name to come up via trade rumors.

If the Mets do decide to move Syndergaard this offseason, they may have waited a little too long, as his trade value likely decreased after the 27-year-old right-hander put together a subpar season in 2019. Between 2015 and 2018, his career ERA was a tremendous 2.93 in 87 games, but in 2019 that number went up to 4.28. Though he proved healthy, setting career highs in starts (32) and innings pitched (197 2/3), he also led the league in earned runs allowed with 94. Hits per nine innings and WHIP were also career worsts.

The good news on Syndergaard is that his velocity was about in line with his career numbers in 2019, as was his walk rate. He got bit by the home run ball, allowing 24 of them as opposed to just nine in 2018.

If indeed the Cubs want to move Bryant, it would make sense to include him in a potential deal since the Mets will need a third baseman next year with Todd Frazier becoming a free agent. If Bryant is not involved, the Mets will almost certainly want major league ready talent in return, as it looks like they would rather retool than rebuild. Syndergaard is under team control for three more years.