New York Mets: deGrom injury already setting up for trade deadline

For the New York Mets, Opening Day hasn’t even arrived yet and the thought of what could happen at the trade deadline could already be lurking in the head of owner Steve Cohen and others inside the organization.

Jacob deGrom’s injury outlook for the New York Mets could have the franchise already thinking about the trade deadline

Jon Heyman of MLB Network tweeted that starting pitcher Jacob deGrom, who will miss Opening Day because of a stress reaction in his right scapula, is likely to not be on the mound for the New York Mets any time in April … or even in May. In fact, Heyman says that June 1 is a “best-case scenario” for the 33-year-old right-hander to make his return to the Mets.

Again, that’s a best-case scenario, not a guarantee.

With deGrom on the shelf, it seems that the Mets will have to rely on a number of internal options to fill in for the two-time Cy Young Award winner. However, that seems like more of a Band-Aid approach to solving the problem as the season gets underway.

The Mets already strengthened their rotation in the offseason by signing free agent pitcher Max Scherzer (who has battled a hamstring ailment late in spring training that has his first start of the season reportedly pushed to Friday and not Opening Day) and trading with the Oakland A’s for Chris Bassitt (who could, by default, be New York’s Opening Day starter).

New York’s pitching depth is already being tested, and likely has Mets management thinking about Plan B should all of the internal options not work out. That could mean that the Mets could return to the trade table before the MLB trade deadline clock strikes for the final time on August 2 at 6 p.m. (Eastern time).

In a division where the Atlanta Braves reign as the defending World Champions and the Philadelphia Phillies have boosted their lineup and bullpen this offseason, can the Mets afford to stay status quo and hope for the best with deGrom? The path seems likely, but it could also make what the team does at the trade deadline even more important.

Do you want to see what the best-case scenario for the Mets really looks like?

deGrom could well come back on June 1, stay healthy, and perform at an ace level upon his return. Scherzer could shake off his hamstring issues and showing he’s worth his record contract from the offseason. Bassitt could be putting up numbers like he did in Oakland last season when he posted a 3.15 ERA/3.34 FIP/1.055 WHIP in 27 starts. Taijuan Walker and Carlos Carrasco could be exceeding expectations in the fourth and fifth slots behind deGrom, Scherzer, and Bassitt.

That’s truly the best-case scenario … but is it reality? Probably not, and that’s why the Mets have to already be thinking about how they will strengthen themselves in the rotation at the trade deadline.

Could the Mets go back to the Bay Area and get Frankie Montas from the A’s? What about a deal with Cincinnati for Luis Castillo? There will be options out there as the trade deadline approaches, including starting pitchers from teams that fall out of the postseason race before it ever really begins.

deGrom’s injury is the biggest question mark of the season heading into Opening Day for the Mets. It’s also one that likely has them already looking ahead to who could be available once the season begins.