Yanks, Mets talk Thor-J.T. 3-team blockbuster

LAS VEGAS -- A blockbuster three-team trade with the Marlins that would send right-hander Noah Syndergaard to the Yankees and deliver J.T. Realmuto to the Mets has been discussed, MLB.com has confirmed, a concept that has sent a tantalizing ripple through the Winter Meetings.
No trade is believed to be imminent, and the proposal is thought to be one of several permutations that could dislodge Realmuto from Miami. The Yankees have been in pursuit of front-line starting pitching all winter and Mets general manager Brodie Van Wagenen said on Monday that he believes the market for Realmuto is heating up.
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"I think a lot of teams are talking to the Marlins," Van Wagenen said. "I would anticipate [Realmuto's] market picking up while we're down here. Whether he gets traded, if the Marlins find the right package of players that they're looking for -- it's hard for me to assess what their asking price will ultimately be, but we'll continue to have discussions with all of the available catchers."
It is unknown what the Yankees would give up in the proposed deal, though general manager Brian Cashman has said that he has been frequently asked about third baseman Miguel Andujar and catcher Gary Sánchez this offseason, among many other players on the club's 40-man roster.

Though Cashman has said that all overtures for Sanchez have been rebuffed, expressing a belief that Sanchez will be the Yanks' starting catcher in 2019 and beyond, the Yankees are believed to be willing to consider moving Andujar over infielder Gleyber Torres.
Cashman remarked this June that he could not entertain any trade proposal involving Torres, saying, "Come on now. I've got to walk around this city."
The 23-year-old Andujar finished second in the American League Rookie of the Year Award race after batting .297/.328/.527 with 27 home runs and 92 RBIs in 149 games this past season, though his defense was considered to be an issue at times.
"Some are more touchable than others," Cashman said on Tuesday. "Andujar is part of a young nucleus of players that we're excited about. We don't get to 100 wins without the booster rockets of Andujar and Torres at second and third last year. They really propelled us in the second half and hit that win column all the way to 100."
A trade involving Andujar could be a precursor to adding Manny Machado, as Cashman confirmed that he has had several conversations with the superstar's agent, Dan Lozano, while indicating that the Yankees would not be scared off by an asking price that is thought to exceed $300 million.
Syndergaard, 26, is thought to be more available than National League Cy Young Award winner Jacob deGrom, whom the Mets consider off-limits in trade talks. Syndergaard was 13-4 with a 3.03 ERA in 25 starts for the Mets this past season and is 37-22 with a 2.93 ERA over four years in the Majors.

One possible addition to the deal could be Sonny Gray, whom the Yankees are actively shopping. Cashman said on Monday that 11 teams have shown interest in the right-hander, whom the club believes will benefit from a change of scenery after 1 1/2 mediocre seasons in the Bronx.
Though crosstown blockbusters have been rare in the history of the Mets and Yankees, Van Wagenen has thus far displayed a certain fearlessness with his negotiating style, expressing a desire to win now with a bold move that imported second baseman Robinson Canó and closer Edwin Díaz from the Mariners earlier this month.
Cashman has also frequently said that he will trade with anyone, except perhaps the Red Sox. This April, the Yankees acquired Minor Leaguer L.J. Mazzilli from the Mets in exchange for Minor League outfielder Kendall Coleman, the 15th trade between the clubs since the Mets' inception in 1962.
The most recent big league deal involving the clubs was in December 2004, when the Yankees acquired reliever Mike Stanton from the Mets in exchange for reliever Felix Heredia.
"I'd like to think that we're very open-minded and aggressive, and talk to everybody about what's available in the marketplace," Cashman said. "It doesn't matter for the most part what the team is. I'll explore every opportunity that might be available. If we run into some common ground with anybody, we'll have more to talk about."