The Mets have been hesitant to hand out long-term contracts to starting pitchers this offseason, opting not to pursue elite arms like Max Fried and Corbin

The Cubs also are involved. But while their prospect list is ranked higher, with highly regarded 3B prospect Matt Shaw understandably off limits in rental deals, the Padres may prefer the Mets’ list, including Brandon Sproat, Jett Williams and Luisangel Acuña.

The Padres have been said through much of the offseason to be looking for ways to shed payroll and chief among those ways is the rumored potential trade of ace Dylan Cease. Among other teams, obviously,