Report: Mets contacted Blue Jays about Matz trade

It looks like the two teams expected to be among the most active this offseason have already been talking to each other about potential deals.

The New York Mets contacted the Toronto Blue Jays about a potential Steven Matz trade, sources told The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal.

The Mets dangled Matz to see if the Blue Jays or another team would offer them something of value for the pitcher, who was entering his third year of arbitration eligibility, sources told Rosenthal.

Matz was projected to earn somewhere between $5 million-$5.3 million in arbitration, according to MLB Trade Rumors.

When trade talks failed to result in a deal, New York opted to tender Matz a one-year, $5.2-million contract.

The 29-year-old struggled last season, posting a 10.17 ERA in six outings as a starter before he was moved to the bullpen.

Matz has been much better than his 2020 numbers throughout his career. From 2015-2019, he owned a 4.06 ERA and 4.31 FIP with an 8.5 K/9 across 548 innings pitched, all with the Mets.