LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. _ Matt Harvey's name has come up in trade discussions at baseball's winter meetings, sources confirmed. But a person with knowledge of the Mets' thinking said that team officials are doubtful that the right-hander will be moved, especially with the team concerned about pitching depth after injuries wrecked the starting rotation last season.
Both the Rangers and Orioles have emerged as potential suitors for Harvey, a source confirmed. But in the Rangers' case, the discussion was wide-ranging and involved several other players.
Infielder Jurickson Profar, a former top prospect whose career has been sidetracked by shoulder problems, emerged as a possible target for the Mets a source confirmed. Profar could fit as the Mets are in search of a second baseman.
According to The Athletic, the Orioles' talks for Harvey have centered on Brad Brach, a reliever who would fulfill the Mets' desire to bulk up their bullpen.
A source told Newsday that former Rays reliever Tommy Hunter has emerged as another top target on the free-agent market. Thanks to an uptick in velocity, the right-hander posted a 2.61 ERA with 64 strikeouts in 61 appearances for the Rays. He's viewed as a strong alternative to Bryan Shaw, who has been on the Mets' radar for most of the offseason.
The Mets also have expressed interest in free-agent reliever Steve Cishek, a source said, adding another arm to a growing list of possibilities. Cishek had a 2.01 ERA in 49 games, though he saved his best work after his trade from the Mariners to the Rays.
One day after Mets general manager Sandy Alderson hinted he'd wait out the market for relievers, he said it would be "desirable" for the Mets to come away with a new bullpen arm before the end of the winter meetings.
"We're still focused most immediately on the bullpen," Alderson said.
Perhaps Harvey facilitates a deal. That his name has resurfaced in trade talks comes as little surprise. Leading up to the meetings, a rival executive said that the Mets let it be known that they would be open to dealing any of their starting pitchers with the exception of Noah Syndergaard and Jacob deGrom.
Harvey, 28, has been viewed by other clubs as a buy-low candidate. Even during the regular season, rival teams inquired about Harvey, hoping to swoop in with his value likely at its nadir.
The right-hander has struggled to bounce back from thoracic outlet syndrome. He went 5-7 with a 6.70 ERA last season and only late in the year did his velocity begin to tick upward.
But Mets officials never moved toward a trade, preferring to stick with Harvey in hopes of bounceback. Even with Harvey coming off a horrific season, the Mets never seriously considered non-tendering him despite a projected salary of $6 million in his final year of arbitration.
Profar, 24, has missed two seasons with shoulder trouble. He hit .172 in 22 games for the Rangers last season, which he spent mostly in the minors. Rangers general manager Jon Daniels has said that Profar doesn't have a set role next season. Profar is also out of minor league options, increasing speculation that he's on the trading block.
But Profar is under team control through 2020 while Harvey is a free agent after 2018, making a match problematic.
Brach, 31, had been linked to the Mets at last year's winter meetings. The righty posted a 3.18 ERA in 67 games. He was coming off an all-star campaign in 2016.
Of course, the Mets could also use some of their other arms to swing a deal. According to a source, teams have shown a varying degree of interest in the team's other starters, a group that includes Robert Gsellman, Seth Lugo and Steven Matz.
With a depleted farm system, dealing an arm might be the Mets' most viable path to swinging a deal. Alderson generally has been wary of dealing from that stock. However, a source said the Mets have discussed trading a pitcher and then pursuing a starter via free agency.
