Analyst links Mets with White Sox pitcher
Chicago White Sox starting pitcher Erick Fedde.
On Tuesday, ESPN's David Schoenfield wrote that the New York Mets could buy before the July 30 trade deadline and pursue Chicago White Sox starting pitcher Erick Fedde.
"In another astute move by the White Sox, they signed [Fedde] after a year in Korea and he has been very good, cutting way down on his walk rate while increasing his strikeout rate (he's dumped his curveball and added a sweeper while throwing his changeup more often)," Schoenfield explained. "He signed a two-year deal, so the added advantage is he would replace one of those departing free agents in the [Mets'] rotation."
Specifically, as recently as Monday, it was believed the Mets could consider making starters Jose Quintana or Luis Severino available to other clubs this month, in part because New York hopes to have a surplus of starters once injured ace Kodai Senga returns to the rotation.
Mike Puma of the New York Post noted that the Mets' past three games showed the club will need bullpen help even after closer Edwin Diaz finishes the final four games of his suspension. Adding Fedde theoretically could allow the Amazins to get somewhat creative regarding their shaky bullpen situation.
Schoenfield mentioned that "there will be a lot of interest in Fedde" ahead of the trade deadline. Last week, Tim Kelly of Just Baseball named the Houston Astros, Milwaukee Brewers, New York Yankees, Atlanta Braves and Baltimore Orioles as possible landing spots for the 31-year-old.
Over his first 17 starts of the season, Fedde went 5-3 with a 3.23 ERA across 100.1 innings of work.
Considering the club's complicated situation, it remains unclear how much Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns would be willing to give up for any player. The 41-41 Mets were postseason afterthoughts a month ago but began Tuesday 1.5 games back of the National League's final wild-card spot. As of the end of Monday's MLB action, none of New York's future opponents through the All-Star break were at .500 or better.
Also on Monday, Andy Martino of SNY said that New York "both buying and selling...is almost impossible to imagine if the Mets are in playoff position" by July 30.
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