An irresponsible move David Stearns should actually make for the NY Mets this winter

Some players are so good that being attached to the qualifying offer doesn't really hurt their free-agent prospects. Take Bo Bichette last offseason for example; the New York Mets not only gave him an enormous contract ($42 million per year for three years), but also forked over their second- and fifth-highest draft picks, as well as $1 million in international bonus pool space. The deal may not have panned out perfectly, but that's the price of signing superstars these days.

However, some players get hurt badly by the QO. If they're not truly elite, it can be difficult to get other teams to justify spending money and draft picks on a single player. That's sort of the case with Adrian Morejon right now, the rare reliever to receive the qualifying offer.

To be clear, Morejon is definitely "elite." Over the past two seasons, he leads all left-handed relievers in fWAR (5.1) and appearances (151) and is second in FIP (2.33) behind only Aroldis Chapman. He's as durable as they come and possesses the raw stuff worthy of being a closer. The problem is that, as a reliever, he's going to lose a lot of leverage due to his status as a qualified free agent.

Which is exactly why the Mets should take advantage of his potentially stunted market.

Mets shouldn't be scared off by Adrian Morejon's attachment to qualifying offer

It's worth noting that Morejon might not reach free agency after all; by accepting the QO, he'd earn a $23.15 million salary next year, which would be the highest ever for a relief pitcher. Considering that he's not even a closer, it will be really difficult to turn that kind of guaranteed payday down.

However, that "not a closer" distinction is only due to circumstance; had the Padres not acquired Mason Miller at the 2025 trade deadline, you can be sure Morejon would have been racking up saves throughout 2026. He ranks in the 90th percentile or above on Baseball Savant in practically everything, inducing chases (38.6%, 99th percentile) and whiffs (34.2%, 97th percentile) at comical rates. There is no doubt that he'll be a closer on his next team, whenever he elects to escape Miller's shadow.

David Stearns might balk at paying another reliever big money after his Devin Williams gambit flopped this year, but Morejon's situation is different. He's only getting better in each subsequent season, peaking in 2026 with 2.8 fWAR. For reference, the only pitcher on the Mets to eclipse that mark, starters included, was Nolan McLean. There are few difference-makers of the southpaw's ilk in today's game.

So, while it might seem that handing out a contract with an AAV approaching $20 million while simultaneously surrendering draft picks and international bonus money is a ludicrous overpay for a set-up man, Morejon is good enough to be worth it.

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