Mandatory Credit: Neville E. Guard-USA TODAY Sports
The offseason has just begun and free agent deals are already being signed. The Dodgers made the first splash signing Andrew Heaney to a one-year $8 million deal on Monday.
The Mets have a whopping list of free agents this season, headlined by Marcus Stroman, Michael Conforto, Javier Baez, and Noah Syndergaard. Contracts also ran out for key 2021 contributors Jonathan Villar and Aaron Loup.
Here are where experts think the Mets top free agents will land:
Marcus Stroman
The Athletic: 5 years, $110 million. Best fits are the Mets, Giants, Angels, Cardinals, Cubs
MLB Trade Rumors: 5 years, $110 million. Predict Angels, Twins, Dodgers
NY Post: 5 years, $100 million. Predict Astros
Sports Illustrated: Best fit – Nationals
Michael Conforto
The Athletic: 5 years, $90 million. Best fits Rangers, Rockies, Marlins, Nationals, Phillies, Guardians, White Sox, Padres
MLB Trade Rumors: 1 year, $20 million: Predictions Braves, White Sox, Brewers
NY Post: 6 years, $140 million. Predict Phillies
Sports Illustrated: Best fit – Marlins
Javier Baez
The Athletic: 6 years, $172 million. Best fits Mets, Cubs, Yankees, Rangers, Tigers, Mariners, Astros
MLB Trade Rumors: 5 years, $100 million. Predict Rangers or Tigers
NY Post: 7 years, $150 million. Predict Mets
Sports Illustrated: Best fit – Giants
Noah Syndergaard
The Athletic: 1 year, $18.4 million. Best fit Mets
MLB Trade Rumors: 1 year, $18.4 million. Prediction Mets
NY Post: 1 year, $18.4 million. Predict Mets
Sports Illustrated: Best fit – Phillies
Jonathan Villar
MLB Trade Rumors: 2 years, $14 million. Predictions Mets, Rockies, White Sox
Sports Illustrated: Best fit – Guardians
Aaron Loup
NY Post: 3 years, $27 million. Predict Mets
Rich Hill
NY Post: 1 year, $6 million. Predict Angels
Experts agree that Syndergaard will accept the one-year qualifying offer and return to New York next season. They also see Conforto as a guaranteed departure. Where they divest from one another is the contract value that Baez will get, ranging from $28 million per year to $20 million per year.
The Athletic sees Nick Castellanos and Japan’s Seiya Suzuki as fits on the Mets. Both players commanding a five-year deal worth over $100 million.
The team at MLB trade rumors has predictions for the Mets to get Kris Bryant, Starling Marte, Anthony DeSclafani, and Kyle Seager.
The NY Post thinks the Mets get Marte at three years, $75 million.
Sports Illustrated has the Mets as best fit for Bryant and Robbie Ray.
