The Padres are among several teams looking at Mets righty Noah Syndergaard.
San Diego — which may have more assets to deal than any team looking to buy at the July 31 trade deadline — has inquired with the Mets about acquiring the man nicknamed "Thor" via trade, according to MLB.com.
Sources: #Padres have inquired to #Mets recently on the availability of Noah Syndergaard. San Diego, with a strong farm system, has been looking for veteran starter since the offseason. Updated story coming shortly to @MLB.com. @MLBNetwork
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) July 10, 2019
The Astros and Brewers also have interest in Syndergaard, according to the report, but if the Padres go all out for the 26-year-old, they likely can outbid any team.
San Diego has eight top-100 prospects, according to MLB Pipeline, and four ranked within the top 50. Lefty MacKenzie Gore is the team's best prospect, ranking third in all of MLB.
The Padres likely will not deal Gore, who they drafted with the third-overall pick in 2017 out of Whiteville, North Carolina, but several teams have inquired about another lefty in the system before, and he may be a man on the move.
Adrian Morejon is the No. 49 prospect in MLB and several teams have inquired about him over the last few months, as well. As of right now, the Padres have not been willing to give him up, but for Syndergaard would they do it?
Syndergaard is a former top-10 prospect himself and with two years of arbitration remaining he may be worth that kind of return in addition to other pieces.
As for the Astros and Brewers, both teams have good systems, but the Padres have a larger assortment of elite players. Houston could include Kyle Tucker in a deal, but they seem unwilling to part with the lefty hitting brother of former Astros, Braves and Reds outfielder Preston Tucker.
For Syndergaard, who has both postseason and World Series experience and two years of team control, maybe they would be willing to part with him.
The Mets have yet to say they will be willing to move Syndergaard, who has a 6-4 record with a 4.68 ERA this season.