The value of Harvey, Wheeler, Familia and Mejia
The best I can tell from talking to people in Dallas, the Mets are not likely to make a deal for pitchers such as John Danks, Gio Gonzalez and Matt Garza because those teams are looking to acquire the type of upper-level prospects the Mets do not yet have.
For instance, while I’ve heard other teams like Matt Harvey and Jeurys Familia, a) so do the Mets, and b) neither pitcher has thrown more than 100 innings above Single-A and so it is difficult to build a deal around either of them. Similarly, Zack Wheeler has yet to pitch above Single-A. Most insiders I talk with seem to view all three pitchers as very promising and, though they are all likely to contribute to a big-league team in their career, for now they are too untested to be featured in a big-league deal.
For what it’s worth, I bet Harvey makes noise in Spring Training, but returns to Double-A to start 2012. However, in June, after he’s made 10 starts or so, we will start hearing rumblings that he could finally be ready to pitch in the big leagues and his name will undoubtedly pop up in trade talks.
By the way, obviously Jenry Mejia is off everyone’s radar as well, as he will not be ready to return from Tommy John surgery until at least the middle of next season.
According to Jonathan Mayo of MiLB.com, Wheeler is now the Mets top prospect, followed by SS Wilmer Flores; Harvey; OF Cesar Puello; OF Kirk Nieuwenhuis; OF Cory Vaughn; Famila; 2B Reese Havens; 2B Jordany Valdespin; and 3B Jefry Marte.
