With both veterans going unclaimed, the Mets are able to negotiate a trade with any MLB team if they so wish.
It's no secret that the Mets don't view the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline as the end of the trading season. Last season they received second base propsect Dilson Herrera and relief pitcher Vic Black in a trade for Marlon Byrd and John Buck in August. Could a similar deal be made this season?
Maybe. What we do know is that left-handed outfield Curtis Granderson and left-handed pitcher Jon Niese can be moved to any team before the August 31 waiver trade deadline. That's because the pair has reportedly cleared waivers, according to baseball insider Jon Heyman.
Both players have been assets for the Mets this season, but are on long-term deals that may make them difficult to trade. Niese was a borderline All-Star for the first half of the season, but he struggled in July and August as a minor shoulder injury forced him to tweak his delivery. Lately, Niese appeared to get back to his winning ways with a solid outing against the Phillies.
Granderson got off to an April so horrible that numerous Jason Bay comparisons were made, but he recovered enough to his 15 home runs and become an important source of power for the Mets. Still, 106 strikeouts and a .232 batting average limit Granderson's on-base ability, even if he does walk quite a bit.
With Granderson having just signed a four-year, $60 millon deal this winter, it will be tough to convince another team to take him on. Even if a willing suitor was found though, the power that Granderson gives the Mets out of right field makes him a piece that the Mets may need to depend on until 2014 first-round draft pick Michael Conforto arrives in the majors.
Niese's contract goes longer than Granderson's, but it is also is more affordable. The team-friendly deal -- which runs through 2018 at less than $10 million per season -- was previously viewed as a reason for the Mets to hang onto Niese, but given the team's depth of arms, it might be time to consider a deal. They say there's no such thing as too much pitching, but that really all depends on what the possible return could be.