Andy Martino of SNY reports that despite missing out on Japanese star right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto and still needing at least two starters, the New York Mets, at least initially, aren’t expected to pursue high-end starters the rest of this offseason. The Athletic and the New York Post have both recently reported the same sentiment as the Mets were trying to get Yamamoto to Queens.
That would likely mean no Jordan Montgomery or Blake Snell, the top two starting pitching options still on the free agent market.
After Snell and Montgomery, you have names like Shōta Imanaga, Lucas Giolito, and Marcus Stroman in the next tier of starters, and then Yariel Rodriguez, Mike Clevinger, Michael Lorenzen, Hyun Jin Ryu, and others in the next tier from that.
Here’s what the Mets current rotation looks like:
There is certainly work to be done there if the Mets want to be competitive, even for a Wild Card in 2024. And keep in mind that Quintana, Houser, and Severino will also be free agents following the 2024 season.
Whether it’s at the top of the market or not, it’s crystal clear that the Mets still need starting pitching for the 2024 season and beyond.
