Paul KasabianFeatured Columnist IIDecember 13, 2023
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The New York Mets are making moves in the MLB free agency market. The team is known to be pursuing Yoshinobu Yamamoto, but reports suggest that they will pivot to reigning National League Cy Young winner if the acquisition doesn’t work out, as per a report from Jim Bowden of The Athletic relayed the report.
“Snell went 14-9 with a 2.25 ERA and 234 strikeouts over 32 starts. He didn’t allow a run in five of his last six starts and was one of the bright spots for the Padres in a disappointing season. However, he’s only pitched 130 innings or more in two of his eight seasons, although he did win a Cy Young Award both years (2018 with Tampa Bay and this year with San Diego). Snell’s market has been quiet but most team executives believe that if Yamamoto declines the Mets’ offer, they will pivot to Snell.”
According to Mark Feinsand of MLB.com, Yamamoto has already met with the Mets, New York Yankees and San Francisco Giants. The Mets owner Steve Cohen and president of baseball operations David Stearns have flown out to Japan to meet with Yamamoto as well.
The Boston Red Sox and the Toronto Blue Jays are also expected to meet with Yamamoto to discuss potential deals.
The Mets owner Steve Cohen is well known for his willingness to invest in bringing top talent to the team. The Mets have a considerable payroll and are prepared to spend around $350 million. So financially, the Mets are positioned to compete for top talent even though it is expected that Yamamoto could sign a contract close to or even exceeding $300 million, as previously reported by Jayson Stark of The Athletic.
If the acquisition of Yamamoto doesn’t work out, Snell is an attractive Plan B for the Mets. The two-time Cy Young award winner, who just turned 31, has a lifetime ERA of 3.20 and an 11.1 K/9 rate. At his best, he’s a lights-out ace capable of anchoring any staff. At his worst, he can get a little wild, leading MLB in walks last year, but his strikeout abilities make him one of the best left-handers in the game since he arrived in 2016.
The Yamamoto watch is on in New York, and the Mets hope to secure a deal that brings the Japanese superstar to Queens. To stay updated on this story, click here to read more. Read More rnrn
