Just like that, the dream of the Japanese starting rotation is over in New York. The Mets put their best efforts into getting the young phenomenon but lost to the Dodgers as they matched the high-money offer the Mets made for Yamamoto. The Dodgers seem to be invincible when it comes to getting the big free agents. It’s hard to compete with a team that is ready to win now and is willing to spend just as much money as the Mets. The Dodgers have spent over one billion dollars this offseason so that they can compete with the Diamondbacks. Maybe they can get past the first round and have real postseason success. But I’m not mad at the Dodgers. That was just jealousy. They did nothing wrong. They know there is no cap space and can spend as much money as possible. If you hate the Dodgers for doing this, you are either a loser or someone who cheers for a loser franchise. Honestly, I’m shocked the Yankees didn’t match the money. They would have given him a higher AAV, but ultimately, it came down to the Dodgers giving him more money.
For the Mets, it sucks. Steve Cohen and the Mets did all they could to get the guy. I might be wrong, but Cohen was the only owner who went to Japan to talk to the man. Cohen let him into the house to meet the fam. Cohen did all he could to woo him. If you are a Mets fan who is mad at Steve Cohen, you truly are lost. No owner put the effort in like Cohen did. What pisses me off the most about Mets fans is they don’t realize how far we’ve come since the Wilpons. Steve Cohen cares. Steve Cohen wants to do all he can to win a championship for this team, but at the end of the day, it seems like he felt it was best not to overspend on the pitcher who never pitched a single pitch in MLB baseball.
This is 100% a way to cope with not getting the guy I’ve wanted since last February, but the Mets have to move on. They still have a glaring hole in their starting rotation and need a guy at the top of the rotation or the middle. What I don’t think the Mets will do is trade for a top-end pitcher. We saw this offseason the Mets are unwilling to trade a top prospect for a player like Juan Soto. Soto is one of the best in the game, so if you are reluctant to move prospects for him, I doubt they do the same for players like Corbin Burnes and Dylan Cease. Burnes is slightly different because he has the Sterns connection, but I think the Mets hold off there.
Then you look at the top free-agent pitchers. I think the Mets should hold off on those players, too. Blake Snell just had the most fraudulent Cy Young season ever. In no world should the Mets overpay for Blake Snell. He also has a qualifying offer, so they shouldn’t overpay and have to give up a draft pick for him. The other best option out there is Jordan Montgomery. Montgomery has had a good season and a half since being traded from the Yankees, but he is going into the season at 31. The Mets should hold off on pitchers seeking long-term deals. They aren’t in the right position to sign older players. The Mets will compete for a Wild Card spot but should refrain from the older long-term pitchers.
The Mets should target players like Michael Lorenzen and Mike Clevinger. These players aren’t seeking long-term deals, and as they are trying to prove they can be average to good pitchers on a winning team. Clevinger should be the guy the Mets get. He had a fairly decent season with the White Sox coming off Tommy John surgery. He has a shaky history but is a good option for a #3 pitcher.
The Mets have an interesting offseason ahead of them, as there are still a lot of moves to be made. The bullpen still needs to be filled. The Mets need a new third baseman now that Mauricio will miss significant time. And, of course they still need to fill the DH position, which they haven’t been able to fill since it’s been incorporated in the NL. At the end of the day, this should be a good Mets team. They won’t be the best team in the National League or the NL East, but they will compete.
SmallDog Sports 
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