NEW YORK (WFAN) -- There were conflicting reports Thursday about a possible Mets-Mariners trade involving Seattle second baseman Robinson Cano and closer Edwin Diaz, but it's now becoming clear that talks between the two teams are quite serious and could be close to an end.
The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal says that the negotiations between the two clubs are reaching a "critical stage" as the Mariners weigh an offer that includes Jarred Kelenic, Justin Dunn, Jeff McNeil, and Bruce Swarzak.
Sources: #Mets' talks with #Mariners on Cano-Diaz reaching critical stage. NYM offer includes some but not all of Kelenic, Dunn, McNeil, Bruce, Swarzak. SEA believed to be weighing proposal against others. Also figure to include money to cover additional part of $120M owed Cano.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) November 29, 2018If the Mets trade Kelenic they will be trading a highly-touted prospect. Kelenic was the Mets' first round pick (sixth overall) in the 2018 MLB Draft.
Other teams could be in the mix, but based on all the reporting from the day it seems like the Mets are the favorites to get a trade done.
Earlier on Thursday, Yahoo's Jeff Passan reported that there is "significant momentum" toward a trade that would send Cano and Diaz to New York. Passan reported that league sources have told him there is "an increasing expectation a trade will get finished."
There is significant momentum toward a deal that would send Robinson Cano and Edwin Díaz from the Seattle Mariners to the New York Mets, league sources tell Yahoo Sports. While they characterize a deal as not done yet, there is an increasing expectation a trade will get finished.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) November 29, 2018However, the New York Post's Joel Sherman quickly took to Twitter to report that the Mets "do not currently feel like they are close to a deal for Cano/Diaz," adding there has been no agreement on financials or personnel that would be involved.
According to Sherman, the Mets believe the Mariners are still wrestling with the decision of whether to trade Diaz separately or attach him to a Cano deal.
Diaz, 24, had a 1.96 ERA and an MLB-leading 57 saves last season. The Puerto Rican right-hander was selected to his first All-Star Game in 2018.
Here is what everyone I talk to says in some form on this issue: #Mariners badly want to move Cano, Dipoto is a deal maker and he is going to figure a way to do that, even if it means tying Diaz to him and making best of a bad situation. And #Mets are very interested.
— Joel Sherman (@Joelsherman1) November 29, 2018According to various reports, some of the players the Mets have discussed giving up in the deal include prospects Jarred Kelenic, David Peterson and Justin Dunn -- all three recent first-round picks -- as well as second baseman Jeff McNeil.
The rebuilding Mariners are reportedly hoping to rid themselves of as much of the five years and $120 million remaining on Cano's contract as possible.
Cano would need to waive his no-trade clause, something he has not yet been approached about, according to Passan.
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Cano, 36, was suspended for 80 games last season for PEDs. He hit .303 with 10 home runs and 50 RBIs in 80 games.
Cano spent the first nine years of his big-league career with the Yankees and was a member of their 2009 world championship team. He signed a 10-year, $240 million contract with the Mariners in December 2013, a deal that runs through his age-40 season.
Over his 14-year career, the eight-time All-Star has a .304 average, 2,470 hits, 311 home runs and 1,233 RBIs.
