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Mets: Three Yankees free agents for the Mets to consider

By Tim Boyle |
Sep 21, 2020; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets first baseman Dominic Smith (2) right fielder Brandon Nimmo (9) and third baseman J.D. Davis (28) look on from the dugout against the Tampa Bay Rays during the ninth inning at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Andy Marlin-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 21, 2020; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets first baseman Dominic Smith (2) right fielder Brandon Nimmo (9) and third baseman J.D. Davis (28) look on from the dugout against the Tampa Bay Rays during the ninth inning at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Andy Marlin-USA TODAY Sports
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DJ LeMahieu would be a great addition to the New York Mets this winter. Mandatory Credit: Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports
DJ LeMahieu would be a great addition to the New York Mets this winter. Mandatory Credit: Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports /

In their search for a better 2021 roster, the New York Mets could look at a few members of the 2020 New York Yankees for help.

A storyline I’m looking forward to seeing this winter involving the New York Mets is how their actions are related to what the New York Yankees do. Both teams should have active offseasons. For the Mets, this could mean signing some former Yankees to free agent contracts.

The Yankees have their own big decisions to make this winter—even ones not involving their free agents. However, with the improbability of the Mets and Yankees making any major trade, the only way I see a player going from The Bronx to Flushing is via free agency.

It has happened plenty of times even in recent years. Just last winter, Dellin Betances went from being a career-Yankee to signing with the Mets. Which members of the 2020 Yankees could follow his path and end up with the Mets?

DJ LeMahieu

How the heck does DJ LeMahieu fit in with the Mets? It’s something a lot of people will say whenever the idea of signing LeMahieu is brought up.

Finding a way to get the 2020 AL leader in batting and OBP is actually simple. The Mets are a single trade away from making it happen. The bad news is this means moving on from J.D. Davis—the guy the Mets would likely go with as their starting third baseman next year.

With Davis out of the picture, LeMahieu becomes the full-time third baseman in Flushing. And like that, any question about how is done.

LeMahieu has been fantastic in his two seasons with the Yankees. You probably already know that. You’ve either listened to New York radio or have an obnoxious coworker that praises LeMahieu weekly while mispronouncing his name.

Whatever it is, LeMahieu is a free agent the Mets should definitely think about despite the unlikeliness of it all.

LeMahieu is coming off of two stellar years with the Yankees and a deal that paid him $24 million across two seasons. At age 32 next season, he can still earn a nice payday in free agency.

Will the Mets finally do what they should have done two years ago and sign LeMahieu? Or will they end up with a deal with whoever the next Jed Lowrie is?

Sep 11, 2020; Bronx, New York, USA; New York Yankees starting pitcher Masahiro Tanaka (19) pitches during the first inning against the Baltimore Orioles during the first inning at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 11, 2020; Bronx, New York, USA; New York Yankees starting pitcher Masahiro Tanaka (19) pitches during the first inning against the Baltimore Orioles during the first inning at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports /

Masahiro Tanaka

A horrible postseason for Masahiro Tanaka may have ended his stay with the Yankees. After seven years with the club, could he finally hit the open market? And if so, should the Mets sign him?

Tanaka is 78-46 with a 3.74 ERA in his 173 starts and one relief appearance. Tanaka hasn’t been one of the league’s most elite pitchers, but he has managed to stay relatively consistent. Even though he doesn’t look like the same pitcher he was in his first three seasons, Tanaka remains an effective big league arm.

Tanaka will turn 32 this November so he’s not too old to skip over entirely in free agency. It’s not an ideal age for a free agent pitcher. It’s also not out of the range of effectiveness.

Like we’ll say with any pitcher going from the AL East to the Mets, we might expect his numbers to improve with the switch. Yankee Stadium is notoriously friendly to hitters while Citi Field can help a pitcher out.

In a scenario where the Mets sign Tanaka, I don’t think it would be the last of the additions to the rotation made by the club. It would be a move made by Steve Cohen to “stick it to the Yankees” as he hopes to see one of their former players excel with the other New York team.

The script of how this could go well for the Mets is already written. So is the one where it backfires completely and the team has an albatross contract all because they wanted to steal a player from the team they share a city with.

The Mets need at least two good new starting pitchers this winter. Tanaka can be one of them.

Oct 6, 2020; San Diego, California, USA; New York Yankees starting pitcher J.A. Happ (33) commits a throwing error while attempting to throw out Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Willy Adames (1, not pictured) in the 3rd inning of game two of the 2020 ALDS at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 6, 2020; San Diego, California, USA; New York Yankees starting pitcher J.A. Happ (33) commits a throwing error while attempting to throw out Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Willy Adames (1, not pictured) in the 3rd inning of game two of the 2020 ALDS at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports /

J.A. Happ

Much further down the list of free agent ex-Yankees for the Mets to consider is J.A. Happ. He might be older than James Paxton, but at least he’s coming off of a productive year. I also would prefer him because Happ probably has a better idea of his value while Paxton will search for an overpayment this winter.

Happ’s time with the Yankees included some major highs and lower lows. He was 7-0 with a 2.69 ERA in 11 starts back in 2018. Unfortunately, the “Red Sox killer” was murdered by Boston in his one start against them in the 2018 postseason. This one start is what he is best known for in New York.

Happ declined in 2019, finishing 12-8 with a 4.91 ERA. The Yankees were unable to get rid of him which wasn’t so bad considering how well he performed this past year. In nine starts, Happ was 2-2 with a solid 3.47 ERA.

Next year is Happ’s age 38 season so a one-year deal possibly with an incentive for a second is all we should look for. It’s the only reasonable type of contract Happ should look for at this stage of his career.

As a possible alternative to Steven Matz, Happ could give the Mets a little more experience in their rotation from the left side. Happ has pitched in the playoffs for three different teams. He’s not as talented as other free agent options. Happ can help fill out the Mets’ rotation with a more trusted arm than several of the options we saw this past year.

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Which Yankees free agent do you think is most likely to sign with the Mets? I would guess Tanaka. He fills a great need and has name-recognition. We can dream about LeMahieu. I don’t think the Yankees let him leave.

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