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The 2019 MLB Trade Deadline is just over two weeks. The Rays will reportedly be among the more active teams in trade talks and could make an impact trade prior to the deadline, according to Buster Olney of ESPN.
Other teams continue to believe Tampa Bay will make an impact trade before the deadline.
— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) July 16, 2019
Perhaps that impact trade could come with the acquisition of right-handed pitcher Zack Wheeler from the New York Mets.
Mike Puma of the New York Post reports that the Rays have recently asked about Wheeler. The report came in an article in which the Mets placed Wheeler on the Injured List with shoulder fatigue.
Several teams — including the Rays, Brewers and Yankees — have checked in recently on Wheeler’s availability, according to industry sources, but this setback could leave him stuck to finish out his season with the Mets, given that August waiver trades have been eliminated.
Wheeler, 29, is in the final season of his rookie contract and will become a free agent upon the season’s conclusion. A solid starting pitcher, Wheeler has put up decent numbers over the better part of his Major League career. However, his career was interrupted by Tommy John surgery that cost him the entire 2015 and 2016 season.
Nonetheless, Wheeler is back on a Major League mound now for the Mets and has accumulated a 4.69 ERA / 3.66 FIP over the course of 19 starts and 119 innings pitched this season.
His trip to the Injured List is reportedly not to worrisome as the Mets expect him back after the 10-days are up.