The trade market in the 2018 MLB looks to be very interesting as we get into the summer months more and more. Among some pitchers who teams have shown interest in and have been discussing trades for is Jacob deGrom. Jake is definitely one of the greatest active pitchers in the MLB, and with the Mets being interested in trading him, there are obviously some candidates standing out more than others. The fact that they’re even willing to talk a trade about him is absolutely incredible and teams trying to contend with an incomplete rotation should pounce on him immediately. Here I breakdown some candidates, why it makes sense to trade for him, and who they should trade away.

Before I dive into some candidates, I think a breakdown of deGrom is in order. First and foremost, deGrom is a very consistent pitcher and is, in my opinion, the best pitcher being talked about in trades since Chris Sale. So far this year, he has the best ERA in the MLB (1.69) in 101.1 innings pitched. He also flashes a solid 1.01 WHIP (11th in MLB), 126 strikeouts (9th in MLB), 27 walks (67th in MLB), and a .204 BAA (12th in MLB) in 16 games started. For his career, he showcases a 2.81 ERA in 768 innings pitched and 87 quality starts, which means that 71.9% of his starts have been quality. His contract has him under control until 2021, so he would be under team control for 2.5 years if a team traded for him now. He is quite the star, so the Mets showing a possibility of a trade should make some teams pounce on him like a predator on a 5-foot high stack of meat. So with that, time to dive into some realistic trades.

deGrom to the Brew Crew

Brewers recieve: RHP Jacob deGrom

Mets recieve: 2B Keston Hiura, RHP Adrian Houser, 1B/OF Jake Gatewood

This is a trade that works very well on both sides of the spectrum. Although it definitely could seem like a winning trade for the Mets because of Hiura, but getting deGrom is definitely no ordinary feat. For the Brewers, it really helps the rotation that’s been good, but definitely could be better. Getting deGrom would give them a rotation of a 4.37 ERA Chase Anderson, deGrom, a 3.82 ERA Jhoulys Chacín, a 2.82 ERA Junior Guerra, and a 1.59 ERA Freddy Peralta or a 4.15 ERA Brent Suter. That is definitely a stacked rotation and could definitely give the Brew Crew an opportunity to be a very legit title contender with an amazing rotation combined with some of the stud bats on the team. The one thing that they truly lack is definitely a superstar pitcher and acquiring deGrom could get them to that position.

The Mets would definitely acquire a nice package in return of deGrom. Hiura is the number 48 prospect out of the 100 and the number 1 in the Brewers’ system. His stats include a .330 AVG, 9 HR, 27 RBI, .388 OBP, .536 SLG, and a .924 OPS in Class A Advanced (A+) and Double-A (AA). He also has a rating of 55 for an overall, and the Mets current second basemen, Asdrúbal Cabrera, is 32 and Hiura could be a nice replacement once he leaves. Houser, the number 12 prospect for the Brewers,  has a 1-1 record, 4.17 ERA, 1.34 WHIP, 38 strikeouts, 9 walks, and a .280 BAA in 36.2 innings pitched and 11 games started for AA and Triple-A (AAA). Acquiring him would help the Mets bolster a rotation that really could use another starter for the future. Gatewood is the number 17 prospect for Milwaukee, and this year he has showcased a .246 AVG, 14 HR, 46 RBI, .303 OBP, .467 SLG, and a .770 OPS in AA. His positions as a first basemen and outfielder should help him for the Mets and get them to a spot they were in 2015.

deGrom in the Bronx

Yankees recieve: RHP Jacob deGrom

Mets recieve: RHP Albert Abreu, RHP Jonathan Loaisiga, OF Billy McKinney

This is also a trade that works out well, especially with the return that both sides of New York would recieve. For the Yankees, getting deGrom would really help bolster their struggling 2018 rotation that includes a godlike Luis Severino, a 4.89 ERA Sonny Gray, a surprisingly great CC Sabathia, a 4.77 ERA Domingo Germán, and and a really solid Jonathan Loaisiga. Getting deGrom would likely replace Germán, giving the Yankees four arms in the rotation with an ERA under 3.2. It would also allow them to possibly get past the Astros, which would officially give them the title of Kings of the AL. Having deGrom in the rotation would also allow the Yankees to better handle NL juggernauts that they may face, similar to the Astros last year.

The prospect pool that the Yankees give to the Mets evens this deal out pretty well. Abreu is the number 65 prospect out of the top 100 and is the number 3 in the Yankees’ system. His stats so far this year include a 3-2 record, 4.04 ERA, 1.28 WHIP, 49 strikeouts, 20 walks, and a .213 BAA in 42.1 innings pitched and 9 games started in A+. He can really help the Mets as a solid starter to help improve their rotation for the future. Loaisiga is the Yankees’ number 12 prospect, and his stats have been very solid. He has a 2-0 record, 3.00 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, 58 strikeouts, 4 walks, and a .267 BAA in 45 innings pitched and 10 games started in A+ and AA. His great stats, especially his strikeouts to walks, should help him bolster that rotation with Abreu. McKinney is the Yankees’ number 16 prospect, and he has some below average or decent stats. He has a .219 AVG, 9 HR, 25 RBI, .313 OBP, .479 SLG, and a .793 OPS in A+, AA, and AAA. He could prove to be a somewhat decent outfielder, although if his average doesn’t improve as much, he might be looking at a bench position. If it does, he could be a solid utility outfielder.

deGrom to the Rox

Rockies recieve: RHP Jacob deGrom

Mets recieve: RHP Peter Lambert, OF Yonothan Daza, OF Willie Abreu

This is a trade that works unbelievably well for the Rockies, because they finally get a starter to supplement their rotation that makes the Reds’ look above average. Currently, their rotation consists of a 5.52 ERA Jon Gray, 4.62 ERA Tyler Anderson, 5.53 ERA German Márquez, 5.07 ERA Chad Bettis, and a 3.55 ERA Kyle Freeland. As you can see, it definitely needs a lot of work. Adding deGrom would compliment Freeland well as the only two guys in the rotation with an ERA under 4. Also, to give you another idea on how badly they need deGrom, they currently are 6 games back from the division lead and 4.5 games back from a Wild Card spot. Without an excellent pitcher to make the rotation not look like a complete trainwreck. They also have a 38-41 record, which is a real downgrade from last year when they were 47-32 after 79 games. Although I highly doubt that they can take the division lead, with deGrom they could take a Wild Card spot.

The prospect pool that the Rockies would give is really worth it for how much they need deGrom. Lambert is the number 92 prospect in the top 100 and the number 3 in the Rockies’ system. He has a 7-2 record, 2.31 ERA, 1.03 WHIP, 66 strikeouts, 11 walks, and a .244 BAA in 85.2 innings pitched and 14 games started in AA. This could really help propel Lambert to be a next future star for the Mets. Daza is the number 18 prospect for the Rockies and his stats include a .306 AVG, 4 HR, 25 RBI, .335 OBP, .468 SLG, and a .803 OPS in AA. This could make him a solid slugging outfielder to improve the Mets’ partially desolate outfield. Abreu is the number 26 prospect for the Rockies, and has had an alright .269 AVG, 7 HR, 27 RBI, .325 OBP, .420 SLG, and a .745 OPS. His hitting stats are decent, and if it works out really well then the Mets could have another good outfielder with Daza.

deGrom to the M’s

Mariners receive: RHP Jacob deGrom

Mets recieve: LHP Marco Gonzales, OF Braden Bishop, RHP Seth Elledge

The Mariners this year are like the 2017 Diamondbacks. A good team stuck in the wrong division. They have an incredible 49-31 record, but are behind the Astros, kind of like how the Diamondbacks had a great record, but were behind the Dodgers. Their rotation consists of a 3.65 ERA James Paxton, 3.26 ERA Wade LeBlanc, 4.11 ERA Mike Leake, 4.04 ERA Gonzales, and a 5.10 ERA King Félix. It’s not bad, but it could use work. deGrom’s stats would replace Gonzales’ well, especially since it’s very likely that they could make the Wild Card. If they play the Red Sox, they’ll likely by facing a 2.56 ERA Chris Sale. If they face the Yankees, they’ll likely be facing a 2.10 ERA Luis Severino. Having a 1.69 ERA deGrom would really help take on these incredible pitchers and get them into the postseason to have Paxton, LeBlanc, and Leake take care of the big teams.

The return for the Mets is very good for the Mets, as the players have some good potential to help them in the future. Gonzales so far this year has a 7-5 record, 4.04 ERA, 1.28 WHIP, 80 strikeouts, 20 walks, and a .276 BAA in 91.1 innings pitched and 16 games started so far with the Mariners. His major league experience makes him a big piece in this deal, and should help that Mets rotation with a starter with still some decent potential. Bishop is the mumber 5 prospect in the Mariners’ system and has some solid stats, posting a .307 AVG, 7 HR, 28 RBI, .379 OBP, .444 SLG, and a .822 OPS in AA. He should help Nimmo and possible furture Mets prospects in the outfield. Elledge is the Mariners’ number 17 prospect and he has some very solid stats so far this year as a reliever. He posts a 3-1 record, 0.96 ERA, 0.82 WHIP, 41 strikeouts, 11 walks, and a .125 BAA in 28 innings and 24 games. He should help bolster that bullpen as a possible future closer for a future playoff run by the Mets.

deGrom to the Bay Area

Giants recieve: RHP Jacob deGrom

Mets recieve RHP Shaun Anderson, OF Heath Quinn, RHP Garrett Cave

The Giants are a team that I really applaud for their courage to try to make the playoffs after their disastrous 64-98 season last year. They acquired Andrew McCutchen and Evan Longoria in the offseason, which is pushing them towards a decent 41-39 this season so far, but they still could use some work, because they’re 2 games back from a Wild Card spot and 4.5 games back from the division lead. Their rotation right now consists of a 3.20 ERA Madison Bumgarner, 4.14 ERA Chris Stratton, 4.43 ERA Andrew Suarez, 3.82 ERA Dereck Rodriguez, and 4.24 ERA Derek Holland. They have injuries to Johnny Cueto and Jeff Samardzija though. Getting deGrom would really boost that rotation to potentially get them to a Wild Card spot, something they hoped to get to last season.

The prospects that the Mets will recieve have pretty solid stats as well, and should help the Mets out pretty well. Anderson is the number 7 prospect in the Giants’ system. He has some pretty solid stats so far this season, which includes a 5-5 record, 3.54 ERA, 1.27 WHIP, 86 strikeouts, 21 walks, and a .264 BAA in 84 innings pitched and 15 games started in AA. He could be a solid top starter for the Mets’ future rotation with his solid ERA and strikeouts to walks. Quinn, the number 10 prospect for the Giants, has been a solid outfielder so far this year in A+, as he has a .322 AVG, 5 HR, 18 RBI, .375 OBP, .493 SLG, and a .868 OPS. If this keeps up for him, he could be a solid outfielder to complement some of their already young guys. Cave is the number 18 prospect for the Giants, but he has some pretty below average stats. He has a 4-3 record, 4.34 ERA, 1.63 WHIP, 59 strikeouts, 38 walks, and a .248 BAA in 56 innings pitched and 13 games started/14 games. Scouts say he’ll likely be a reliever, so he has some decent potential to be a reliever or closer for the Mets in the future.