It isn’t often that the reigning Cy Young winner is the subject of trade speculation the offseason after winning the award. But it also isn’t often that the reigning Cy Young winner is 38 years old and is in the midst of so-far unsuccessful contract negotiations.

Welcome to the Mets world.

Normally, a winner of the Cy Young award would be a player that a team, especially a rebuilding one like the Mets, builds around. But, despite being a knuckleballer, it’s tough to build around a 38 year old. Ergo the Mets need to trade him.

Recent hauls for former Cy winners have been everywhere from bountiful (Roy Halladay, Zack Greinke) to distasteful (CC Sabathia, Jake Peavy). Either way, the team moving their ace has received a substantial package of players with high potential to build around.

The Mets certainly need this. They need help at every position outside of third base. The rotation looks to be solid long term with Matt Harvey, Zach Wheeler, Jenrry Mejiia and Dillon Gee manning spots for the next couple years.

With the rotation being somewhat of a strength, or at least deep enough so that the Mets can sustain the loss of a player at that position, and New York going nowhere fast, it seems like the opportune time to trade Dickey.

New York could use a return of position players, or pitching even to bolster their team for the long term. Look at the Kansas City Royals, deemed as a young team with some potential. They made the Greinke trade and have the look of a team that could challenge for a playoff spot in the next few years.

The Mets need this kind of outlook, because building around a 38 year-old for the foreseeable future just isn’t going to work.

What do you think? Should the Mets trade RA Dickey?