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NY Mets: 3 free agents they shouldn’t join the bidding war for
By Leen Amin
Justin Verlander
The Mets are going to need pitching help, especially if they bid Marcus Stroman farewell during the offseason. Future Hall of Famer Justin Verlander of the Houston Astros is a name that stands out, but the Mets should stay away for obvious reasons.
Verlander will be 39 years old next season. He’s no spring chicken. Couple that with the fact that he’s coming off Tommy John surgery and Verlander is far from appealing.
He was aging like fine wine and did win the AL CY Young in 2019, the season before he had surgery, but he hasn’t pitched since the beginning of the 2020 season.
There, of course, is a chance that Verlander comes back great and continues to dominate. But the risks accompanied with signing him aren’t ones the Mets should be taking. A team with other fall-back options is the right place for Verlander.
The only way Verlander to the Mets makes sense/is a good move is if it’s one made out of luxury and surplus, not necessity. If the Mets add a few solid arms to the rotation and decide they want to sign Verlander to be a bottom of the rotation depth piece, then it makes sense.
Next. Where will Dominic Smith get traded?
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The Mets are better off looking for starting pitching elsewhere and should definitely prioritize bringing Stroman back, but that’s a conversation for another day.