According to Joel Sherman of the New York Post, the New York Mets have engaged the Red Sox about a trade centered around starting pitcher Zack Wheeler.
The Red Sox are in dire need of both rotational and relief pitching depth, and are reportedly targeting a starter. Sherman also reported that the Red Sox are not the only team engaged in trade talks for Wheeler.
Wheeler, 29, is currently 6-6 with a 4.69 ERA for the Mets, who have the second-worst record in the National League. He's allowed 16 home runs in 19 appearances, but has strong walks per nine innings (2.6) and strikeouts per nine innings (9.8) numbers.
The righty is coming off a career year in which he recorded a 3.31 ERA and 1.124 WHIP. Wheeler's contract expires after this season, and he would potentially land the Mets a strong package, according to Sherman.
Aside from David Price, Boston's highly-touted and highly-priced starters underperformed in the first half of the season. Overall, Boston's starters have 4.70 ERA, 18th in baseball. They've also been hurt by injuries and haven't found a consistently productive fifth starter. Plus, with Nathan Eovaldi moving to the bullpen, it appears the search for a fifth starter will continue.
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