Unlike other teams around Major League Baseball, the New York Mets continue to be active in free agency with spring training getting going. After adding the likes of Jay Bruce, Todd Frazier and Adrian Gonzalez to their lineup earlier in the winter, the Mets are now focusing on their starting rotation.
According to Jon Heyman of FanRag Sports, the Mets have signed All-Star pitcher Jason Vargas.
Sources: Mets and Jason Vargas have a deal pending physical
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) February 16, 2018
This is a pretty big coup for a team looking to surprise the masses. Vargas had pretty much been an unassuming pitcher throughout the first 12 years of his career, acting as a middle of the rotation type guy.
That changed last season with the Kansas City Royals. The 35-year-old starter posted an AL-best 18 wins to go with a 4.16 ERA and 1.33 WHIP en route to earning his first ever All-Star appearance.
Vargas should now slot in behind Noah Syndergaard, Jacob deGrom and Matt Harvey in the Mets’ rotation this season. If all are healthy, it’s not a bad starting unit for a New York squad that has improved leaps and bounds this winter.