It seems that for the last decade the Cincinnati Reds have been linked to New York Mets right handed pitcher Zack Wheeler. It hasn’t actually been that long, of course, but it feels that way, doesn’t it?

The Reds were reportedly at his last start, and are also coming back to see him pitch on Saturday according to Kristie Ackert of the New York Daily News. Cincinnati is in a weird spot when it comes to their rebuild. They are playing well over the last two months, and the young talent still in the minors is getting closer. But right now, they are also nowhere near contention – at least for the 2018 season. The move to acquire a player this trade deadline would be more about 2019 and beyond.

Zack Wheeler has battled injuries for most of his career. In fact, he missed all of the 2015 and 2016 seasons. In three of the four Major League seasons that he’s played in he’s made exactly 17 starts – including this year. Only in 2014 did he pitch a full season, making 32 starts with a 3.54 ERA.

In 2018 he has remained healthy and has started every game since April 11th for the Mets (well, every scheduled game for his spot in the rotation, of course). He’s been solid, but unspectacular in that time. Over 99.2 innings pitched he’s posted a 4.42 ERA. That’s good for an ERA+ of 87, or 13% below league-average when accounting for the ballparks he’s pitched in. His peripherals, however, tell a better story. He’s got a solid home run rate, and a solid walk rate. His strikeout rate is well above-average, with nearly a strikeout per inning (99 in 99.2 innings).

Zack Wheeler is 28-years-old, and despite only having 83 starts in his career, according to Baseball-Reference, he will be a free agent following the 2019 season. He accrued service time for both the 2015 and 2016 seasons despite not playing. Assuming that information is correct, it’s an interesting situation for the Reds. That would lead to them buying Wheeler for one season – the 2019 season, and hoping that he can be at least one of the pieces to help take them from the bottom of the division to at least wild card contention, if not more. He won’t make much money in his final year of arbitration – I’d expect less than $5M. But, to acquire him you would have to probably give up something of value on the farm.

The Reds have more than a few quality outfield and second base prospects that could entice the Mets. There’s also a chance that there’s a starting pitching prospect that could draw their interest. I’m not completely sold on the idea that Zack Wheeler is the “missing piece”, even if the team were to go out and add more than just him for 2019. But, I do think that if healthy, he would be an upgrade in the starting rotation and help them take a step forward.