Mets RHP Dillon Gee was the subject of offseason trade rumors. That's understandable, since he arrived at spring training as one of six established starting pitchers on the Mets' staff.
The other candidates for the Mets' rotation are: LHP Zack Wheeler, 41-year-old RHP Bartolo Colon, LHP Jon Niese , RHP Jacob deGrom, who won last season's NL Rookie of the Year award and RHP Matt Harvey, returning after missing last year with arm surgery.
A source told ESPN New York that, although there wasn't much trade talk on the first day of camp, Gee "could be traded" during the spring, if the right deal came along.
Colon is also a candidate to be traded to clear the logjam in the starting rotation.
If the team keeps all six pitchers, Gee is the leading candidate to be sent to the bullpen for long relief and the occasional spot start.
Gee was 7-8, with a 4.00 ERA in 22 starts for the Mets last year. In his five MLB seasons, all with the Mets, he's 40-34, 3.91. His last relief appearance was in 2011.