New York Mets owner Steve Cohen has the deepest pockets in MLB. His $19.8 billion net worth combined with the Mets’ $350 million payroll a season ago tell us that story.
Despite this, New York has yet to make a splash move during the MLB offseason. The team lost out on Shohei Ohtani, who signed a record 10-year, $700 million contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers this past weekend.
“The agent never reached out to me personally,” Cohen said about Ohtani sweepstakes, “and I think that’s pretty telling.”
The Mets are not turning their attention to the starting rotation after trading both Justin Verlander and Max Scherzer ahead of the Aug. 1 MLB trade deadline.
Cohen joined new team president David Stearns to fly out to Japan and meet with star pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto. New York is seen as one of the top contenders for his services given Cohen’s deep pockets and an asking price that could reach $300 million.
However, there are several teams in on the 25-year-old Yamamoto. He just met with the San Francisco Giants and Los Angeles Dodgers on the west coast. The top remaining free agent also has a visit scheduled with the Boston Red Sox and has already met with the New York Yankees. Meanwhile, the Atlanta Braves and Toronto Blue Jays are said to be in on Yamamoto.
This could very well force the Mets to pivot if they don’t land the Japanese phenom.
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New York Mets interested in Blake Snell on MLB free agent market?
“Snell’s market has been quiet but most team executives believe that if Yamamoto declines the Mets’ offer, they will pivot to Snell,” Jim Bowden of The Athletic on New York Mets interest in Snell.
The 31-year-old Snell pitched to a 14-9 record with a 2.25 ERA while striking out 234 batters en route to winning the National League Cy Young for the San Diego Padres a season ago.
As the market continues to play out for Yamamoto, teams in on him are going to have to look at other options. In a typical winter, Snell would be the top MLB free agent pitcher. But the dynamics changed once Yamamoto was posted.
Despite holding a fire sale at the MLB trade deadline, the Mets are still looking to compete with the Atlanta Braves and Philadelphia Phillies in the National League East next season. Stearns made that more than clear once he was officially named as their front office head.
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“It’s a reasonable expectation to compete every year,” Stearns said back in October. “Having resources is an advantage and at appropriate times we will use that advantage.”
As of right now, Kodai Senga heads the New York Mets’ rotation. He was good as a rookie, pitching to a 12-7 record with a 2.98 ERA and 1.22 WHIP in 29 starts.
After that, there are a ton of question marks. New York signed a reclamation project in that of Luis Severino from the Yankees in free agency earlier this winter. It also has veteran Jose Quintana likely to fill a spot.
The Mets have made it clear they are not going into a rebuild by trading Pete Alonso. If that is indeed the case, being active in free agency must be in the cards moving forward this winter.
The question here is whether New York’s biggest addition will be Yamamoto or Snell. We’ll find out soon enough.