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These MLB teams already did the NY Mets a favor this offseason

Thanks!
ByTim Boyle
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Jun 7, 2026; San Diego, California, USA; New York Mets designated hitter Juan Soto (22) smiles at the San Diego Padres dugout during the second inning at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: David Frerker-Imagn Images
Jun 7, 2026; San Diego, California, USA; New York Mets designated hitter Juan Soto (22) smiles at the San Diego Padres dugout during the second inning at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: David Frerker-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Doing the New York Mets any favor is on nobody’s offseason to-do list. However, these MLB teams unintentionally gave the Mets a light gift with their own action.

It’s a sport of looking out for yourself and yet these three choices made by other teams will swing around to do the Mets a favor: as long as they don’t find a way to make it into something worse.

Thank these teams for doing the Mets a favor

Milwaukee Brewers by issuing Jake Bauers a qualifying offer

Jake Bauers getting a qualifying offer from the Milwaukee Brewers pretty much guarantees the Mets won’t sign him. He’s actually a decent candidate to accept it. It’s a higher AAV than he deserves and if he goes out and has another monster year at the plate he’s going to get significantly more money. Bauers having the QO hanging over him should have many teams bypassing the idea of signing him. While he might have finally figured some things out, he comes with a whole lot of risk the Mets shouldn’t be willing to take.

Toronto Blue Jays by not picking up Myles Straw’s option

Meanwhile, the Toronto Blue Jays did the Mets a favor by not picking up Myles Straw’s option. They could have paid him $8 million but instead chose to buy him out for $1.75 million. A right-handed hitting outfielder with speed and defense, he’s an ideal candidate to take on the role vacated by Tyrone Taylor. Nick Morabito didn’t look quite ready. A one-year deal with Straw would suffice.

Tampa Bay Rays by picking up Drew Rasmussen’s option

The Tampa Bay Rays weren’t scared enough by the $20 million they agreed to pay Drew Rasmussen in 2027. Luckily for the Mets, this makes him a trade candidate. Rasmussen might not be as much of a fit for the Mets in 2027 if he was merely a free agent. It’s Tarik Skubal or Rasmussen. The choice trickles down further with Yandy Diaz at $13 million an outside possibility for the Mets as well. Every winter seems to have at least one Rays trade to subtract payroll. Coming up short in the World Series could change things. It might not be Rasmussen or Diaz they trade. Someone will be on the move and the Mets should get in line. Based on how David Stearns has operated with pitching, he'd make an exception to his rule with Skubal. With Rasmussen, he feels like a trade candidate and not someone the current Mets regime would ever sign long-term.

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