Matt Harvey
May 13, 2014; Bronx, NY, USA; New York Mets injured starting pitcher Matt Harvey (33) between innings of a game against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium. The Mets defeated the Yankees 12-7. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Along with Jose Fernandez, Matt Harvey represents one of baseball’s brightest young pitchers but also another player to need Tommy John surgery. And it is very possible Harvey is simply untouchable, but the word is that the Mets have come calling about Xander Bogaerts, and there is no way Zach Wheeler, Jacob deGrom, or Noah Syndergaard is going to convince Cherington to give up his shortstop of the future. Harvey is the one player on this list that I would give up Xander Bogaerts for, and given the quality of the other names, that should say a lot about Harvey’s talent.
He sat out all of 2014 after his injury at the end of the 2013 season, but he was kicking in doors in his first full season in New York. In 26 starts, he posted an incredible 2.27 ERA and yet his FIP was an astonishing 2.01 (!) meaning he pitched even better than his stats show. If I were the Mets, Matt Harvey would be untouchable, but Sandy Alderson has a reputation for going against the grain (albeit with less success than Billy Beane…). I would give up Bogaerts for Matt Harvey, along with Owens and Double-A outfielder Manuel Margot, an astronomical prospect package for an astronomical talent.