NY Mets starting pitcher trade options if they miss on Trevor Bauer

If they are unable to sign Trevor Bauer, these starters might help the New York Mets win a lot of games this upcoming season.

The New York Mets went into the 2020 offseason with three major holes to fill. Catcher, center field, and starting pitching. They filled the catcher hole by signing James McCann to a four-year $40 million-dollar contract. It looks like they are very interested in George Springer filling the center field hole. But the biggest hole in my opinion that this team has right now, has not been filled. We also have no idea how it will be filled. And that’s the starting rotation.

What we do know, is the starting rotation will be headlined by two-time Cy Young Award winner, Jacob deGrom. We also know that Marcus Stroman will be back. The rest of the rotation is unknown. David Peterson will likely have a spot after his solid rookie campaign. But the fourth and fifth starters right now if the roster stays as is would be Steven Matz and Corey Oswalt. That’s not going to cut it.

We also know that Noah Syndergaard will be back at some point. Right now, the Mets think he will be back in June. But recovering from Tommy John Surgery is always tricky and we never really know the timetable. Furthermore, when he does return, he will likely be on an innings limit and a pitch count in his starts. So while it would be nice to have Syndergaard back and healthy pitching to his full potential, the likelihood of that happening this season is minimal.

The Mets have some options in free agency, but the market is pretty scarce when it comes to starting pitching. There’s the front-line starter, Trevor Bauer. But is he really worth the contract he is going to get? Probably not. Then there are the mid-rotation arms like Masahiro Tanaka and Jake Odorizzi. I can see the Mets signing Jake Odorizzi, I don’t really want any part of Tanaka personally.

And then there’s the risk category with Corey Kluber and James Paxton. These guys have been great in the past, but injuries have raised major red flags about their ability to contribute in 2021. I would have no problem going after one of these guys but only if the Mets can get a safer option as well. Preferably Trevor Bauer.

With free agency not having many quality options, the Mets can look to upgrade their pitching through trades. With the farm system as weak as it is, this wouldn’t be my first choice. I think the best thing the Mets can do right now is sign Trevor Bauer, even if he is overpaid. I don’t see Bauer being a Cy Young winner again, but I do see him being a quality second starter in a rotation. The best part about Bauer is that he does not cost any assets other than money.

With that being said, there are still some quality arms that the Mets can trade for this offseason. If the price is right, I would say they should pull the trigger.