New York Mets left-hander Jonathan Niese is drawing some interest from the Chicago Cubs.
According to ESPN, the Cubs are interested in a potential trade for Niese, who is earning $7 million this season, will make $9 million in 2016 and comes with a $10 million team option for 2016 and an $11 million option for the following campaign.
Niese, 28, is 3-7 with a 4.12 ERA in 14 starts this season.
Niese had value on the Mets as the lone left-hander in the starting rotation, but with southpaw Steven Matz set to make his sesaon debut on Sunday afternoon at Citi Field, the Mets could look to deal the veteran.
Matz joins a young rotation for the Mets that is led by Matt Harvey, Jacob deGrom and Noah Syndergaard, who was called up to the big league club in May.
In 2016, the Mets plan to go with that quartert and eventually Zack Wheeler (Tommy John surgery) as their starting five.
The Mets have already optioned veteran Dillon Gee to Triple A due to the fact that their rotation is stacked with young arms, so a deal for Niese is foreseeable.
Veteran Bartolo Colon rounds out the rotation for the Mets.
Niese is slated to start against Chicago on Tuesday.
It remains to be seen what the Cubs would give up in a potental trade, but they have plenty of pieces they could possibly offer, depending how valuable they feel an addition of Niese would be.
The Cubs rotation is led by offseason acquisition Jon Lester, Jake Arrieta and Jason Hammel.
Wit the July 31 trade deadline drawing near, the trade talk is heating up.
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