The Mets failed, however not by means of an absence of effort.
They tried, by means of their actions and their cash, to lure Yoshinobu Yamamoto to Queens.
Staff proprietor Steve Cohen and president of baseball operations David Stearns flew to Japan earlier than the winter conferences for an in-person sit-down with the pitcher and his household, getting a head begin on the sweepstakes and including a private contact.
A second assembly transpired at Cohen’s Connecticut residence final weekend, with a heavier presence of Mets personnel that included supervisor Carlos Mendoza and pitching coach Jeremy Hefner.
And when it got here time to write down a examine, Cohen added the monetary contact of a 12-year, $325 million contract, The Publish’s Mike Puma reported, which might have crushed Gerrit Cole’s all-time document for largest contract ever awarded to a pitcher by $1 million.
And Yamamoto, certainly, took the parameters of that precise contract — however not from Cohen.
As an alternative, the Japanese famous person determined Thursday he’ll crew with one other Japanese famous person in Shohei Ohtani with the powerhouse Dodgers because the Mets’ pursuit ends with loads of mileage however with no signature on the dotted line.
The intense facet for Cohen’s Mets is that they now can transfer on and proceed with their offseason realizing who is obtainable and who is just not.
It’s extra of a flicker than a real shiny facet, although, as a result of Yamamoto was the one potential famous person beginning pitcher who match their desired timeline.
Ever since promoting off eventually season’s commerce deadline, the Mets have prioritized the long run over the speedy.
Their purpose is to be a sustained contender for a few years and never solely for 2024, and thus they haven’t wished to threat future flexibility.
Maybe a big contract to a 30-something beginning pitcher may change into a monetary anchor a number of seasons from now.
Yamamoto, at simply 25, was completely different.
He may assist the Mets now and sooner or later, they hoped, after successful three straight Sawamura awards — Japan’s model of the Cy Younger — and coming to the majors with far much less tread on his arm than a typical free-agent MLB pitcher.
The 2 prime choices remaining on the free-agent market are Jordan Montgomery, who turns 31 subsequent week, and 31-year-old Blake Snell.
The Mets’ plan, as The Publish’s Joel Sherman has reported, has not been to easily pivot to the next-best ace.
There is no such thing as a different Yamamoto out there, which doubtless means the Mets will search further beginning pitchers on offers extra akin to Luis Severino’s, having signed the previous Yankee for one 12 months and $13 million.
There’s some upside (albeit restricted) in such one- or two-year pacts, and draw back is mitigated as a result of the contracts expire rapidly.
Yamamoto signing elsewhere is yet one more signal that the 2024 Mets might be far much less horny than the 2023 model.
They haven’t signed one participant this offseason to a multiyear deal.
Barring the surprising or a top-of-the-market value drop, Kodai Senga seems to be the ace of subsequent 12 months’s Mets in a rotation that can embody Severino, Jose Quintana and sure Adrian Houser.
Including yet one more starter doubtless would push Tylor Megill, Jose Butto and Joey Lucchesi to depth items.
Including two may bump Houser to a swingman.
The Mets additionally may use additional bullpen depth, maybe a 3rd baseman and perhaps one other outfielder, even after including Tyrone Taylor within the Wednesday commerce that additionally netted Houser.
The Mets will pivot to Plan B.
Plan A concerned months of time, power and cash that culminated in disappointment.
Cohen has lengthy had aspirations of turning the Mets into the East Coast Dodgers, however the West Coast model may as nicely be enjoying in a unique league proper now.