Ranger Suarez to the Mets
This one is going to gain more traction as true Mets rumors come along. The Phillies have a pretty stacked rotation with prospect Andrew Painter on the way. They can’t pay everyone, can they? Ranger Suarez becomes a free agent this offseason. The Mets would be wise to circle him.
The lefty hurler has reached 150+ innings in three of his last four seasons. Prone to missing a few starts each year, the Mets can handle and accept him at 25 starts per season. His 3.20 ERA this past year is the best since becoming a regular starter. A good strike thrower with two straight years of under 3 BB/9, Suarez is a step below true ace but seemingly capable of becoming more.
Stealing Suarez away from the Mets would be some sort of Zack Wheeler retribution. Slow to develop into a truly good major league starter, he has quietly been right there along the other impressive Phillies starting pitchers.
There’s obvious room for Suarez on the Mets roster with a trade of Sean Manaea or Kodai Senga opening it up further. The best of Suarez may still be in front of him. The question is whether or not the Mets believe they can afford (financially and roster-wise) to have another well-paid starting pitcher on the roster with the way things are currently structured.