Mets-Pirates talks heat up with Brett Baty in spotlight and pitching depth in play

Trade speculation around the New York Mets refuses to cool down as spring training approaches. While Brett Baty is a confirmed point of interest for the Pittsburgh Pirates, there's another name quietly gaining traction behind the scenes. The latest chatter received credibility after Will Sammon of The Athletic backed up reports from a Pittsburgh radio host about the Pirates interest in the Mets infielders Brett Baty and Mark Vientos, further fueling intrigue around a possible deal between the two clubs.With pitchers and catchers expected to report next week and the roster flexibility still in flux, the Mets appear to be open to listening. And while Baty has been the headline, industry eyes are starting to wander even further over a different surplus in Queens: the pitching staff.Trade interest in Brett Baty should not be astonishing to the fans. The Mets are flush with corner-infield options, and Baty comes into the season without a clearly defined everyday role. That logjam makes the former top prospect an attractive target for teams such as the Pirates, which are still looking for long-term answers at third base. Pittsburgh's interest also comes after it failed to acquire Framber Valdez, which has seemingly shifted the focus to New York's depth on the roster. Moreover, Mark Vientos has come up in discussions, too, though the recent moves by the Mets, including the return of Pete Alonso and the signing of J.D. Martinez, have complicated some plans that will be made inside the organization for both hitters.Under the president of baseball operations, David Stearns, New York has demonstrated it is willing to adjust on the fly. Vientos was slated to be the designated hitter before Martinez arrived on the squad, with him and Baty sharing first base until Alonso re-signed. And with no premium offensive free agents remaining on the market, rival clubs are expected to keep calling about both bats.Behind the buzz surrounding the position-player, left-hander David Peterson is being considered by rival evaluators as a potentially realistic alternative to Valdez. Owed just over $8 million in his final year of arbitration, Peterson is not a bargain-bin option for the team, nor is he prohibitively expensive, a profile that could hold appeal to several pitching-deprived teams, including Pittsburgh.Peterson was not specifically mentioned in connection with the Pirates, but it would make sense to pair him with Baty or Vientos if discussions go deeper. The Mets are currently projecting a six-man rotation, but injuries last season to Sean Manaea, Frankie Montas, and Paul Blackburn forced them to rely on depth arms such as Tylor Megill. Still, a spring-training deal would not be surprising. With roster plans historically changing near Opening Day, it's expected rival executives are keeping tabs on Peterson. As one league observer put it, that may be where the true surplus of the Mets, and the next major rumor, really lies.