NY Mets: Top 3 free agent starting pitchers to target ranked

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Which free agent pitchers should the New York Mets consider this winter? (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /

If there’s one thing an MLB team can never have enough of, that would be quality starting pitching. As we saw in the 2021 New York Mets season, starting pitching is something you need in large quantities.

This past season, the blue and orange had eight starting pitchers make eight starts or more. This offseason, the Mets are scheduled to potentially lose Marcus Stroman, Noah Syndergaard, and Rich Hill, all as free agents this offseason.

Depth is the name of the game for Mets free agent targets

According to spotrac.com, the Mets only have six starting pitchers on major league contracts for the 2022 season. Only one of those players (Taijuan Walker), started more than 20 games this past season.

With the uncertainty of potential free agents from the Mets, along with a rash of injuries that devastated their rotation in 2021, they will need to look to the free agent market to sure up their rotation.

Even with the deep pockets of Steve Cohen, starters like Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander, even if they were to be left unsigned by their respective teams, are not likely to fit into the Mets 2022 rotation.

The Mets need to find their next Bartolo Colon this offseason, a reliable workhorse who can give the team quality starts, not their next Jacob deGrom.

3) A lefty from the bay area for the Mets

One thing the Mets certainly lacked last season was quality left-handed starting pitching. The team traded Steven Matz to Toronto in the offseason, then had the seasons of Joey Lucchesi and David Peterson cut short by injury.

If the Mets want to add another left-hander to their rotation, a name to add to the list would be Alex Wood from the San Francisco Giants.

Wood is coming off his best season since 2017 when he was named an All-Star with the Los Angeles Dodgers. During that season he posted a career-best 2.72 ERA, along with a 1.057 WHIP rate.

Coming off of two injury-riddled seasons in 2019 and 2020, this season, wood posted a 3.83 ERA and a 1.183 WHIP, in 138 2/3 innings pitched.

Wood would be a nice addition to the bottom end of the

rotation, especially on a one or two-year deal. If Wood could be had on a salary around six to seven million a year, that could be a deal with minimal risk with a high upside.

A deal similar in structure to what Taijuan Walker signed with the Mets in the past offseason, one without a large commitment that offers the Mets upside on a veteran pitcher.

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – OCTOBER 12: Anthony DeSclafani #26 of the San Francisco Giants pitches against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the first inning in game 4 of the National League Division Series at Dodger Stadium on October 12, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) /

2) Another target for the Mets in the Bay Area

One of the reasons the Giants had such a great year in 2021, was their starting pitching. Unfortunately for them, Alex Wood isn’t the only starter that is due to be a free agent, Anthony DeSclafani is as well, who could be a solid mid to back end of the rotation starter for the Mets.

This past season, DeSclafani put up a career-best with a 3.17 ERA and a 1.091 WHIP, while also throwing two complete game shutouts. DeSlafani has started 30 games and pitched over 165 innings three times, in his five full seasons as a starter in the majors.

DeSclafani isn’t a flamethrower on the mound with his fastball only averaging 94 mph. While he may not have the velocity, he does utilize his breaking pitches very well and very often.

DeSclafani threw his slider, which averages 88 mph, more than any other pitch in 2021, using it 35.7% of the time. His slider was also his best pitch when needing a strikeout, accounting for 74 of his 152 strikeouts last season.

What role would DeSclafani play on the Mets and to what cost?

DeSclafani isn’t someone who is going to be a flame-throwing top-of-the-line starter, but that is also not what the Mets need. The role DeSclafafni would fill would be a back end of the rotation starter, who could give the Mets consistent innings.

With incentives included, DeSclafani made slightly over $6 million this past season. Considering his age and his body of work, DeSclafani would likely command a deal that averages around $10 million per season.

With the Mets’ own free agents to be, along with their available own salary situation, DeSclafani could be an option, especially if either Syndergaard or Stroman don’t return to the Mets next season.

TORONTO, ON – SEPTEMBER 30: Robbie Ray #38 of the Toronto Blue Jays pitches in the first inning of their MLB game against the New York Yankees at Rogers Centre on September 30, 2021 in Toronto, Ontario. (Photo by Cole Burston/Getty Images)

1) Ray is coming off a career year

The best and most realistic option for the Mets this offseason would be left-hander Robbie Ray from the Toronto Blue Jays.

Ray is coming off a career season with the Blue Jays. He led the American League with 193 1/3 inning pitched, a 2.84 ERA, 284 strikeouts, and a 1.045 WHIP. Ray also led all of the majors, stranding 90.1% of his runners on base.

Ray vastly improved his numbers from the 2020 shortened season. In 2020 Ray struggled with both control and the home run ball, giving up 2.3 home runs per nine innings, while also walking 7.8 batters per nine innings.

The Jays have a couple of key players entering free agency this year along with Ray, most notably All-Star shortstop Marcus Semien and former Mets pitcher Steven Matz.

How would Ray fit with the Mets and what would his contract look like?

With Mets starting pitchers like Syndergaard, Stroman, and Hill all free agents, along with the second half struggles of Walker, Ray could easily be the Mets number two starter next season.

It is likely that the Mets bring back either Stroman or Syndergaard for next season, with a long-term deal being more likely for Stroman, while Syndergaard is more likely to return on a one-year qualifying offer.

Ray is coming off a one-year $8 million contract with the Jays. Ray is likely to command a deal slightly north of Nathan Eovaldi’s four-year $68 million deal with the Boston Red Socks.

One thing that could hurt Ray’s value is the amount of free agent starting pitchers. While some are likely to ink deals with their current teams, the list of free agents includes Scherzer, Verlander, Zack Greinke, Clayton Kershaw, and Kevin Gausman.

Ray is not only one of the best options for the Mets, but also one of the most realistic considering their roster needs and cap considerations.

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