Steven Matz traded to Blue Jays

[Eye Black]

Not a major deal, but the Mets have reportedly agreed on a trade sending LHP Steven Matz to the Blue Jays.

 

Per Jeff Passan: The Toronto Blue Jays are finalizing a trade to acquire starter Steven Matz from the New York Mets for three prospects, sources familiar with the deal tell ESPN.

 

There are also a lot of Mets fans that seem to think this move is foreshadowing a Trevor Bauer signing in the near future.

 

Edit: Prospects returning to the Mets are reportedly Sean Reid-Foley, Yennsy Diaz and Josh Winckowski

[SRB]

How much of a return is that? Wish the Brewers would have been in on Matz if cheap.

[wallus]

Matz was beyond brutal last season.

[MadThinker88]

Some are suggesting online that the move opens a spot for the NYMets to get Bauer.

I'm wondering if the move adds assets for the Mets to go deal for Kris Bryant Or Nolan Arenado...

 

It will be interesting to watch...

[brewmann04]

Bauer to the Mets is the big talk here on the NY sports talk.

[JosephC]

Matz really hasn't been very good for awhile now. He has a 4.83 ERA and 4.92 FIP since the beginning of 2017 and really had hit a level of mediocrity before he completely crashed last year. I was actually kind of surprised that the Mets offered him arbitration considering how bad he's been recently and they already were looking pretty good in the rotation. But it turned out to be a pretty good move for them as they pick up three prospects. Toronto probably likes him because he had his highest fastball velocity in 2020 and had a career high in K%, but his location must have been as bad as Burnes in 2019 because he allowed 14 home runs in 30 2/3 innings. But even if you look at that as a total fluke, which could be reasonable, it's hard to overlook the really average performance from 2017-2019. I would have no interest in him at a 5+ million price-tag, much less giving up three prospects for him, but time will tell if this works for the Blue Jays or not.