NY Mets: Top 12 free agents the team should look to sign this winter

Sep 29, 2021; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets right fielder Michael Conforto (30) and starting pitcher Noah Syndergaard (34) walk to the dugout before a game against the Miami Marlins at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 29, 2021; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets right fielder Michael Conforto (30) and starting pitcher Noah Syndergaard (34) walk to the dugout before a game against the Miami Marlins at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /
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Sep 25, 2021; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Robbie Ray (38) throws to the Minnesota Twins in the first inning at Target Field. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports /

9) NY Mets free agent target Robbie Ray

Pitching is pretty important for every ball club. The Mets saw how much a bad rotation can affect them this past year. Robbie Ray, a guy who turned in a terrific season for the Toronto Blue Jays, is someone they definitely need to think about signing.

Ray was 13-7 with a league-leading 2.84 ERA in 2021. He also led the league with 193.1 innings and 248 strikeouts. It was an incredible year for the lefty. Undoubtedly, it should lead to a fat contract this offseason.

I like the idea of the Mets pursuing Ray because he can give them a trusted lefty in the rotation. It’s not something they have really had for quite some time. Even if his career track record suggests this past season was as good as it can get, I’m willing to take a chance that he has figured something out and can at least come close to repeating his 2021 performance.

Ray has done one thing quite effectively since 2016 and that’s stay on the field. While he hasn’t been an iron man, there hasn’t been a major injury to prevent him from making at least 23 starts each season dating back to 2015—sans the shortened 2020 season where he was both healthy but also pretty bad.

I wouldn’t overpay for Ray. At the right price, he can absolutely give the Mets some starting pitching leverage over the rest of the league.

Everything above is negated if Ray ends up with a qualifying offer from Toronto. In which case, he’s not worth sacrificing the 14th pick in the draft for.