It has been an absolute roller coaster of an offseason for the New York Mets. They started by losing their top players, Edwin Diaz and Pete Alonso, but in the last few weeks, they’ve added a ton of talent to their roster.
Their most recent addition was signing star Infielder Bo Bichette to a 3-year, $126 million deal with multiple opt-outs. Owner Steve Cohen has shown a willingness to offer short-term deals with a high annual value. Even with Bichette, President David Stearns has lots of work to do as we get closer to Spring Training. The weakest part of their team right now is the starting rotation, where many high-end arms are available in free agency.
Mets Starting Rotation Is Weak
The back end of the lineup is still a weak point, but the starting rotation is the biggest glaring issue on the roster. The biggest problem for the Mets last season was their starters’ inability to go more than five innings, which taxed an extremely weak bullpen. Stearns doesn’t like to give starting pitchers long-term contracts, but the perfect option in free agency could fall right into their laps.
Left-handed Pitcher Framber Valdez is the best arm left on the market, and the chances of him receiving a short-term contract are increasing every day. Valdez would provide the Mets with something they desperately need, which is the ability to make 30+ starts and go deep into games. Not to mention, he’s posted an ERA under 3 in the last 3 seasons, with the highest at 3.66. With Spring Training beginning next month, Valdez may have no choice but to take a short-term deal.
Framber Has No Market
Right now, every team interested in his services knows that he doesn’t have a long-term offer on the table, and General Managers won’t bid against themselves. What’s likely happening is that Valdez is receiving short-term offers for three to four years with a high annual value, which he doesn’t want. Obviously, Valdez is seeking a long-term deal as he enters his age-32 season.
With the Mets still seeking an ace in their rotation, they could swoop in for Valdez, very similar to what they did with Bichette. Cohen is always the shark swimming in the water, looking for blood and strikes when no one expects it. He has the deepest pockets of any remaining suitors for Valdez, and he will try to bolster the rotation without handing out an expensive long-term commitment. As we enter February, players will start flying off the board as they look to join teams and win a championship.
The Clock Is Ticking
With more moves left to make, the New York Mets need to work with some urgency. They’ve done a nice job thus far, but are nowhere near beating teams like the Los Angeles Dodgers or the Chicago Cubs. Not to mention, they will be competing in a stacked division that has only gotten better. As things stand, the Mets are not the best team in the NL East, and the argument can be made that they are the third-best team.
If they can reach the postseason, they’ll be exceptionally well-positioned if they add to the rotation. Juan Soto and Bichette are known for coming up clutch in the playoffs, which many teams altogether fail to do. Time will tell if Cohen is willing to go all in and back up all his talk from earlier in the offseason.
