Mets Rumors: The Mets are in the running for Jake Odorizzi

The correlation between free-agent starting pitchers and New York Mets rumors continue to intensify in the preliminary stages of the offseason.

With the New York Mets looking to potentially shore up two starting rotation spots this winter, it’s no surprise to see many of the pitchers that are on the free-agent market finding themselves entangled in Mets rumors. The latest free-agent pitcher to find himself caught in the web of Mets rumors is starting pitcher Jake Odorizzi.

The 30-year old right-hander has had interest from four different ballclubs (subscription required) so far in the early stages of free agency according to ESPN Reporter Buster Olney, with the Mets being one of the organizations showing interest. The other three organizations that have shown interest include the San Francisco Giants, Toronto Blue Jays, and Minnesota Twins. It’s worth noting that Odorizzi has spent the previous three seasons with the Minnesota Twins.

I had previously mentioned that Odorizzi would be a great move for the Mets to make this offseason to shore up the back of the rotation. Despite the injury-plagued season for Odorizzi in 2020, he has been known to be a durable pitcher long on results in his career. The All-Star right-hander managed to average 30 starts a season since his first full season in the majors back in 2014, to go along with a really good career WHIP of 1.240.

Due to the nature of the free-agent landscape this offseason and Odorizzi’s injury-riddled 2020 campaign, it should not cost the Mets much in terms of money to acquire the right-hander. Odorizzi may be looking at a two or three-year contract this offseason, which is a far cry from the type of deal he was expecting to receive this upcoming offseason after accepting the Twins qualifying offer last winter.

There are a couple of players on the open market that are prime bounce-back candidates for 2021, and Odorizzi certainly qualifies as one of those players, especially with his proven track record as a solid starting pitcher throughout his career. If the Mets are looking to solidify the middle of their rotation through free agency, Odorizzi is exactly the type of pitcher the Mets would be looking for.

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Expect the Mets rumors surrounding starting pitchers on the open market to continue to heat up over the coming days. Once the front office decisions have been made, you can fully expect the Mets to begin making aggressive pursuits for their intended targets this winter.