What To Do?

By Mark Halpern and Mike Rifkin

When Steve Cohen bought the New York Mets, fans everywhere rejoiced not just because it meant the Wilpons didn’t own the team, but because of Steve Cohen’s bank account. Cohen’s takeover started with a bang by acquiring Francisco Lindor, and signing him to a 10 year contract. Cohen’s checkbook also helped the Mets get out of deals with future Hall of Famers Justin Verlander and Max Scherzer; he would pay a hefty sum of their contracts to acquire better prospects. After a disastrous 2023 the Mets hired David Stearns to be the President Of Baseball Operations. And Stearns, even with Cohen’s checkbook, was not very aggressive during the winter, signing players to one year contracts, and didn’t go after the top of the market. After this season both Verlander and Scherzer will be free agents, which means they’ll both be off the Mets books, so will Cohen and Stearns be more aggressive this winter?

Last winter, the Mets saw their crosstown rivals steal the headlines when the Yankees emptied the farm to acquire Juan Soto from the Padres. Soto has had a sensational season in New York already hitting a career high 37 homers. In 2022 Soto turned down a 15 year 440 million dollar contract extension with the Nationals, which led him to be moved to San Diego. For most, turning down a luxury offer like that would be insane, but Soto will turn 26 in October, and is primed for a massive payday and most experts believe for the first time a bidding war between Steve Cohen and the Yankees will take place. 

While Soto is the marquee free agent, he also provides a dilemma for the Mets. Now the two may not coincide  with one another, one has to imagine signing Soto would probably end the Mets career of Pete Alonso. Alonso, who on Tuesday night hit his 220th career home run, which ties him with Mike Piazza for third most in franchise history. Alonso, since his rookie season where he set a record with 53 homers. Alonso, has really yet to catch fire this season and you can tell the contract is weighing on him. Alonso and Soto are both represented by Scott Boras. 

Outside of Soto and Alonso, the Mets also have a massive need in their rotation. Kodai Senga has pitched just five innings this season, Luis Severino, who the Mets took a flier on this season has been really good, but he’s a free agent at season’s end. Sean Manaea, who you can argue has been the Mets best starter, has a player option after the season. So if Manaea opts out and Severino goes elsewhere the Mets rotation would be Senga, David Peterson and Christian Scott if he’s healthy. So, what does the free agent pitching market look like? Well, the best pitcher on the market is someone familiar with Stearns and that is Corbin Burnes of the Orioles. Burnes pitched for Stearns in Milwaukee and won a CY Young, and he started the All Star Game for the American League this season. Blake Snell, another Boras client has an opt out in his contract with the Giants, after having to wait until Spring Training to sign. Who knows what Snell does? Then there’s a really interesting option and it might affect what happens with Soto, and that is Yankees ace Gerrit Cole has an opt out in  his contract, if he exercises that option, would that change the Yankees plans with Soto? Shane Bieber will be coming off of Tommy John Surgery, and Walker Buehler has struggled in his recovery, if the Dodgers don’t give him a qualifying offer, Walker can be the most wanted Buehler after Ferris. Jordan Montgomery, like Snell had to wait a long time to sign, has a vesting option as does Nathan Eovaldi. Both of which slot into the middle of the rotation, but both have had playoff success.