After putting out whereas bidding $325 million on celebrity right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto, it’s nonetheless unsure if the Mets will pursue prime remaining free-agent starters Jordan Montgomery and NL Cy Younger winner Blake Snell, who’re additionally drawing curiosity from the Angels, Giants, Phillies, Pink Sox and others.
The Mets have been linked extra to the subsequent tier of free-agent starters, together with Shota Imanaga and Lucas Giolito, however it’s price questioning whether or not deep-pocketed proprietor Steve Cohen would settle for coming into the yr — Pete Alonso’s stroll yr — as solely a touch aggressive workforce.
Giolito, who’s additionally getting large curiosity from the Pink Sox, had a tough end to 2023 after his divorce (and two trades) however he’s a uncommon free agent off his age-30 season or youthful with 5 straight 175-strikeout seasons (pro-rating 2020).
The Mets made a giant effort for Yamamoto, and whereas they declined to do the $50 million signing bonus, the suspicion right here is that they by no means had an actual likelihood. It was written right here months in the past Yamamoto could have had a West Coast bias, and nothing was stated to dispute that at Yamamoto’s Dodgers press convention.
The Mets and Angels are eying prime free agent DH J.D. Martinez. His outdated Diamondbacks workforce additionally seeks a hitter. Justin Tuner is one other who suits all these groups.
The Yankees want to carry again Montgomery, however it’s much less clear how concerned they’re in Snell, no less than for now.
The Phillies made an actual try for Yamamoto — their presentation drew reward — and, with a latest historical past of sensible free-agency performs, stay in play to signal one other prime free-agent starter, together with Montgomery and Snell.
The Rangers made sense as a match for Montgomery, a key to beating the rival Astros within the ALCS, however their native TV problem could have put large expenditures on maintain for now.