Mets trade rumors: Mets have discussed dealing Zack Wheeler

The Mets have discussed Zack Wheeler in trade negotiations, according to a report in the Daily News. The 25-year-old right-handed pitcher was set to be part of the Mets' Opening Day rotation this year, but he underwent Tommy John surgery in late March.

With that, the soonest he could potentially pitch in a major league game would be early in the 2016 season. If the Mets don't trade him, it'll be interesting to see how long of a timetable they lay out for his rehab. Matt Harvey went significantly longer between major league starts after having his Tommy John surgery, and perhaps his recovery would give the Mets reason to take things slowly with Wheeler.

Sandy Alderson has said that the Mets will not trade any of their current big four starting pitchers—Matt Harvey, Jacob deGrom, Noah Syndergaard, and Steven Matz—when speaking to the press recently. While that group doesn't include Wheeler, it would still be a little surprising to see him dealt, if only because the team's strategy of stockpiling young starting pitching.

In 49 major league starts since making his debut for the Mets in 2013, Wheeler has a 3.50 ERA and 3.77 FIP. He was, of course, acquired by the Mets from the Giants in exchange for Carlos Beltran before the trade deadline in 2011.