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Mets: A trio of bold predictions for Steve Cohen’s first offseason

By Adrian Cervantes

Apr 27, 2018; San Diego, CA, USA; A detailed view of the cleats and socks worn by New York Mets center fielder Juan Lagares during the fourth inning against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 27, 2018; San Diego, CA, USA; A detailed view of the cleats and socks worn by New York Mets center fielder Juan Lagares during the fourth inning against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports /
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CINCINNATI, OH – SEPTEMBER 23: Trevor Bauer #27 of the Cincinnati Reds pitches during the game against the Milwaukee Brewers at Great American Ball Park on September 23, 2020 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /

1) The Mets make Trevor Bauer the highest-paid pitcher In baseball

It is no secret around baseball that impending free-agent starting pitcher Trevor Bauer will be the most coveted arm on the market this winter. When it comes down to it I believe the Mets will make Bauer an offer he can’t refuse and make him the highest-paid pitcher in the game with the average annual value he will receive. The 29-year old Bauer has sent a wide variety of mixed messages via Twitter and individual interviews of how he will conduct his free agency courting from being only open to one-year deals to wanting to sign with a club that will let him pitch every fourth day.

In the long run money talks and the Mets have plenty of it to go around this offseason. The Mets have potentially three holes in the rotation that need to be filled before the start of the season, and it’s not a secret that incoming Mets president Sandy Alderson loved building his Mets ballclubs around dominant starting pitching which makes this a natural fit.

I do believe that the front office will view Bauer as a better fit in terms of money and for the current needs of the ballclub than impending free-agent catcher J.T. Realmuto. I strongly envision a scenario where the organization will take a longer glance at other options at catcher, and use the big money this offseason to fortify the rotation behind ace Jacob deGrom, which is what cost the Mets a shot at the playoffs this season.

Jacob deGrom will carry a $36 million salary number next season which is also tied with Bauer’s arch-rival Gerrit Cole, as the two highest-paid pitchers in baseball. Bauer will certainly want to eclipse that number coming off a Cy Young caliber season. I forecast the Mets opening up the checkbook and offering Bauer a two-year deal worth $40 million per season with a third-year player option to solidify the Mets rotation with the best one-two punch in the game.

Plus is there anybody else in baseball better than Bauer to handle the New York media?

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