If the Mets are to trade for a shortstop before next season, the Cubs seem like a good match.
The Mets and Cubs match up well for a trade this winter, says John Harper of the Daily News. Harper writes that the Cubs are high on Noah Syndergaard, the Mets' top pitching prospect, and that the Mets are high on Cubs shortstop prospect Addison Russell. Chicago recently acquired Russell from the A's in the trade that sent Jeff Samardzija and Jason Hammel to the American League's best team.
The Cubs have an overflow of young middle infielders, with Starlin Castro the oldest of the bunch. Javier Baez, who was called up recently, was almost exclusively a shortstop in the minors but got a little time at second base this year, too, and is playing there in the big leagues with Castro at short. Russell only adds to the potential logjam for the Cubs.
Across High-A and Double-A this year, the 20-year-old Russell has hit .297/.366/.485. The Mets are still reportedly inclined to hold on to their top young pitching talent, but Harper writes that they might be willing to trade Syndergaard for a player like Russell or Baez.
Syndergaard, acquired with Travis d'Arnaud and Wuilmer Becerra in the R.A. Dickey trade after the 2012 season, is still just 21 years old and has a 4.76 ERA and 3.78 FIP pitching for the Mets' Triple-A affiliate in Las Vegas.