The NY Mets are back in trade rumors involving first basemen Ike Davis and Lucas Duda, as those players are being shopped once again and names like Nick Franklin, Didi Gregorius and Chris Owings could be targets with the Mariners and Diamondbacks, while teams like the Pittsburgh Pirates, Baltimore Orioles and Milwaukee Brewers have been interested in a deal for the 1B.
Davis has been mentioned in trade rumors for months and the Mets have not pulled the trigger and now ESPN.com is reporting that he is being dangled again in talks for GM Sandy Alderson. According to ESPN.com, Davis has been out of action in spring training for two weeks and during that time the team has been looking into deals for the first baseman along with Duda and once again it centers on the shortstop position, as Rueben Tejada is still penciled in as the Opening Day starter for the Mets and they would like to get someone better at the position.
Tejada hit just over .200 last season and the team has been rumored to be looking at Nick Franklin, Didi Gregorius, Chris Owings and Stephen Drew as targets, but they don't want to sign Drew because they will have to give up a draft pick. Franklin has been mentioned quite a bit, but the Mariners do not need a first baseman and that would more likely be a deal involving pitching. According to SI.com, Mariners scouts have been looking at Mets prospects and a deal for Franklin could be coming along soon.
Franklin and the Mariners have been mentioned in numerous rumors after Robinson Cano was signed, as Franklin played second base last season after coming up as a shortstop. Since Franklin is a natural shortstop, the Mets have been interested and so have the Detroit Tigers, as they have Jose Iglesias injured for part of the season and that could be a deal that goes down. Franklin showed good power and a solid glove last season, but the Mariners will not just give him up and they are looking for a top prospect in any deal.
The Diamondbacks and Mets have been mentioned in possible deals as well, since the D-backs have two shortstops in Didi Gregorius and Chris Owings. ESPN.com reports that Owings has the inside track to the starting job this spring and that means the Mets could look to deal for Gregorius and while Davis could be an option there, the Diamondbacks likely also would want pitching coming back and a name like Noah Syndergaard or someone else could be in the mix. The Mets have been dying to upgrade at shortstop, but as usual they have been reluctant to make a deal and with Opening Day around the corner, Alderson may have to make a move quickly.
The Mariners have been mentioned in numerous trade talks for Franklin and they are still high on him and if the GM doesn't get a deal he likes, they will hang onto him. Brad Miller is looking like the starter at short and Franklin will likely be sent down if he doesn't make the team out of camp and that is another reason why a trade is possible. The Mets are getting close, but they haven't pulled one off for Davis yet.
