Five of the Best Starting Pitchers Available in Free Agency

While Major League Baseball remains in the early stages of its first lockout in over 25 years, a number of notable free agents remained unsigned. Specifically, the starting pitcher market contains some of the most accomplished arms of the past decade. With the Mets already making a statement this winter, signing Max Scherzer and adding on three impact bats as well, there’s no telling what move the Metropolitans might make next.

In previous years, marquee names like Scherzer would have mostly been a pipe dream for the Mets. But with Steve Cohen and team management demonstrating that they’re willing to spend the big bucks to bring in premier talent, the following names could be of interest should the Mets decide to make another splash once a new collective bargaining agreement is signed.

1) Clayton Kershaw – Perhaps baseball’s best pitcher of the past decade, Kershaw has done it all since joining the Dodgers as a rookie in 2008. Three Cy Young awards and eight All-Star selections later and the ace finds himself on the free agent market past the prime of his career. That being said, Kershaw is coming off a 2021 season in which he posted a 3.55 ERA in 121 2/3 innings, and before that, he posted a sub-3.00 ERA in the pandemic-shortened 2020 season.

While he may no longer be anywhere near baseball’s unanimous best pitcher anymore, the lefty still has at least a few good years left in him as a starter, and would be an incredible veteran presence behind Scherzer and Jacob deGrom in the Mets rotation.

2) Zack Greinke – Another former Cy Young winner who spent some of the best years of his career in the City of Angels, Greinke is just a few years removed from an All-Star, Gold Glove season with the Diamondbacks and Astros. While he’s posted an ERA above 4.00 in each of the past two seasons, Greinke – who turns 38 next October – has gotten the job done along every stop in his career. Having played exclusively in the midwest and west coast during his 18 year major league career, a move east, to Queens specifically, could be the best chance for Greinke to capture his first World Series championship before he hangs up the cleats.

3) Carlos Rodon – The former White Sox lefty made his first All-Star team in 2021, a season in which he finished fifth in American League Cy Young voting. While he was a free agent in 2020 as well and re-signed with the White Sox on one-year deal, Rodon could be set for a huge payday this winter. After four consecutive seasons with an ERA over 4.00, he broke out this year, posting a 2.37 ERA and a 0.957 WHIP, good for an ERA+ of 183. He also finished the year with a 5.14 strikeout to walk ratio, by far a career best.

Rodon is early enough in his career, and peaking at the right time, that he should have no problem getting at least a $60 million deal over a few seasons – and I wouldn’t be surprised to see that number approach nine figures, on a longer term contract. The Mets have shown interest in Rodon this offseason as they look to add another starter.

4) Yusei Kikuchi – Coming off his first major league All-Star appearance, the former international free agent Kikuchi posted career bests in ERA (4.41), strikeouts (163), and ERA+ (94) in 2021. However, it was a tale of two-seasons for Seattle’s lone All-Star, as his fist half-ERA sat below 4.00, while his ERA after the mid-summer classic soared over 5.00. With Seattle declining Kikuchi’s option, he is looking to join a ballclub other than the Mariners for the first time in his big league career. With a need for proven, middle-of-the-rotation arms, the Mets offer him an opportunity for a fresh start in a larger market, while surrounding him with two aces to learn from as well.

5) Tyler Anderson – Acquired by the Mariners at the trade deadline in July, Anderson had his best seasons in the altitude of Denver. Over his past two seasons between San Francisco, Pittsburgh, and Seattle, his ERA+ has regressed to 94. And despite the constant moving around, Anderson could benefit from another change of scenery, this time to a contender. He’s not one to wow you statistically, but there’s a reason Seattle went out and grabbed him from the Buccos in an attempt to end the M’s playoff drought. Anderson turns 32 this month but brings potential as a low-end starter that the Mets need after their two aces.