R.A. Dickey trade: Deal likely to include 7 players

Catching super-prospect Travis d'Arnaud and center field prospect Anthony Gose have been speculated as targets for the New York Mets, with the Mets allegedly sending R.A. Dickey to Toronto in a multi-player deal.

ESPN New York's Adam Rubin confirms that if the deal is done, d'Arnaud will be involved.

"The catcher will have to be in the deal if it is to get done," a major-league source said.

d'Arnaud has been part of a blockbuster trade before, having been part of the package the Phillies put together to acquire Roy Halladay in 2009. Baseball Prospectus' Kevin Goldstein listed d'Arnaud as a five-star prospect and No. 1 in the Blue Jays organization.

Reportedly not in the deal is outfield prospect Gose, according to Joel Sherman of the New York Post. Sherman reports that the potential deal could include up to seven players, but that Gose will not be one of them. In addition to d'Arnaud, catcher John Buck and pitching prospect Noah Syndergaard were mentioned as possibly headed to New York, with the Mets including catcher Josh Thole in addition to Dickey. It also seems as if there will be two lesser prospects included on each side.

Dickey, who is 38, has been unable to reach an extension with the Mets. He is the reigning National League Cy Young winner and set to make $5 million in the final year of his deal. He's thought to be seeking a two-year extension worth $26 million.