The Mets have been in contact with both pitchers in recent weeks, with team officials speaking to them on Zoom calls.
The Mets will be eyeing on Justin Verlander and Carlos Rodon
The Mets’ rotation can go in a variety of directions as they seek multiple pitchers to join Max Scherzer and Carlos Carrasco, but the class of elite free-agent starters is reduced to Verlander and Carlos Rodon.
The Mets have been in contact with both pitchers in recent weeks, with team officials speaking to them on Zoom calls.
Justin Verlander – Mets?
The three-time Cy Young Award winner’s clout with the Mets may have increased after deGrom signed a five-year, $185 million contract with the Rangers on Friday, ending his illustrious career with the organization that drafted and developed him.
However, Verlander, who turns 40 in February, may be a better fit for the Mets on multiple fronts, beginning with the shorter-term contract he will command.
The Astros, Dodgers, and Yankees are among the other teams linked to Verlander, with the winner determined by who is willing to offer the right-hander a three-year contract.
Verlander, who won his third Cy Young Award last month, went 18-4 with a 1.75 ERA in helping the Astros win the World Series before opting out of his contract.
If he signs with the Mets, he will be reunited with Scherzer, his former Tigers teammate.
Rodon, who turns 30 on Saturday, is expected to command a significantly longer contract than Verlander and would also cost the Mets draft picks as a qualifying offer.
The Mets’ compensation would be their second and fifth round picks in next year’s draft. Rodon was 14-8 with a 2.88 ERA for the Giants last season, finishing sixth in the National League Cy Young race.
Rodon’s agent, Scott Boras, is known to drag out negotiations involving his star clients, and Mets officials are concerned that if they wait too long for Rodon, they will miss out on other options.
However, it should be noted that Boras moved quickly to secure a contract for Gerrit Cole at the last winter meetings in 2019 (the event was canceled the previous two years).
In addition to a starter, the Mets require depth in the middle of their rotation and have been linked to Jameson Taillon and Andrew Heaney, according to sources. Jose Quintana is another option.
Bassitt, who turns 34 in February, was the Mets’ most dependable starter last season, but the team isn’t interested in giving the right-hander a contract longer than three years, according to a source.
The Mets are also looking into starting pitcher trades. Aces like Zac Gallen and Corbin Burnes may be out of the Mets’ price range in terms of prospects, but a mid-rotation arm like Pablo Lopez could be considered.
