Yankees and Mets should both be active in the MLB trade market

Both the Mets (36-32) and Yankees (34-35) should be active in the trade market before the MLB deadline on Aug. 1. Both New York teams are hovering around .500 but both still have playoff hopes.

The Mets looked brutal this past weekend at Citi Field as they lost three straight to the hapless Braves. There were World Series expectations set for this club and they certainly look like they could use a boost soon.

Sandy Alderson desperately needs to acquire a potent bat and that may mean softening his stance on trading right-hander Zack Wheeler – who will return from Tommy John surgery next month. Of course, Wheeler was part of the Carlos Gomez deal with the Brewers that fell through last season.

David Lennon of Newsday recently reported that the Mets have “close to zero interest” in trading Wheeler but all names will have to be on the table if Alderson expects to get anything resembling a top-flight hitter in the next month and a half.

Alderson can change his mind quickly on matters as ESPN reported on Tuesday that the Mets are now “at least considering” bringing back shortstop Jose Reyes, who was designated for assignment by Colorado last week.

Mets manager Terry Collins seemed open to a Reyes return to New York last week as he wistfully recalled the Reyes era in New York.

“When we lost Jose [in 2011] I thought, ‘Boy, this is a major piece gone,” Collins said, via ESPN. “His energy to play the game, his love to play the game, his love to play the game in New York City, it’s hard to find. It’s hard to find those guys. We missed him. I don’t know what’s going to happen down the road. Certainly, I always root for him.”

As for the Yankees, it seems like every player on their roster has been mentioned in trade rumors. The names of Andrew Miller, Nathan Eovaldi, Brian McCann and Dellin Betances are routinely tossed around and C.C. Sabathia’s name was added to that list this week as The Boston Globe’s Nick Cafardo wrote that Sabathia has high trade value on the open market and that he could be open to moving.

Carlos Beltran is another Yankee who may be dealt if the Yanks don’t start winning games at a higher clip. Kevin Kernan of the New York Post said this week that the San Francisco Giants “still love Beltran” and lo and behold they’re in the market for an outfielder.