It seems like the bolded parts are contradictory statements. If I am reading it correctly you are asserting that teams don’t need to offer full value in order to acquire Syndergaard or deGrom because baseball is flooded with prospect hugging organizations that will depress the market value for either pitcher. Then you said that is why they won’t be traded? Sure, if teams don’t offer adequate value for either pitcher the Mets have absolutely no reason to move either player, but then doesn’t that sink your theory about teams being able to acquire either pitcher without offering equal value as long as it is simply the “best offer”? We shouldn't be trying to put together a massive, mouth-watering overpayment package to entice the Mets to part with one of their top pitchers. Our goal should be to beat other teams offers. If we make the best offer of any team, and the Mets decide it isn't good enough and keep their starters...so be it. With players of this caliber with this much team control, there is certainly going to be a wide gap between what is offered in prospects and what these pitchers are actually worth. Many have pointed out specifically for the Brewers that they think we'd need to trade Hiura, Burnes, Peralta to have a chance at either pitcher. Are you really willing to trade our top 3 prospects, and really our only likely impact prospects...for one guy? Our farm goes from the 6-10 range to about 20th in a hurry with that move...and the likelihood of getting significant reinforcements from the minors anytime soon decreases drastically. Other GM's thought process is certainly similar, and GM's like Atlanta, NY, LA, etc have passed on opportunities to empty the farm for proven talent in recent years. I'm sure they'll make offers, but nobody is going to offer back 100% value in prospects for either guy. Nobody is going to match a Hiura, Burnes, Peralta offer...and for all we know that may not be enough to entice the Mets anyway.