Padres interested in Mets’ stud arms
THE PADRES checked in on Jacob deGrom and Noah Syndergaard (The Athletic’s Dennis Lin first reported the Syndergaard contact).
San Diego, despite current non-contention, would consider a starter with multiple years to free agency because the Padres see themselves improving next year and being contenders in 2020. That is why San Diego would have more interest in Syndergaard (under control through 2021) than deGrom (through 2020).
Outside executives continue to say they have not seen the actions to suggest the Mets are ready to trade either of their rotation stars before the deadline. But as the Padres’ advance indicates plenty of interest will still exist in the offseason and, perhaps, more teams that are not contending now would be even more interested in competing for deGrom and/ or Syndergaard come a fresh start in the winter.
The Padres are particularly poised to act because they have six of the top 33 prospects in the minors, according to MLB Pipeline, and 10 of the top 100. Also, under general man- ager A.J. Preller, they have shown boldness in going for it in 2015 with the addition of players such as Craig Kimbrel, Matt Kemp, James Shields and Justin Upton, and signing Eric Hosmer last offseason to an eight-year, $144 million deal.
“The question we have moving forward is when do we cash in on our [prospect] depth and add to our major league team,” Preller said by phone. “We have multiple prospects in different spots. We have to figure the right guy to bite down on.”