Recent NY Mets rumors suggest one of two things about their free agent pursuits

A trade seems likely for the New York Mets in the coming days. With the international free agent signing period just over two weeks away, the Mets are expected to make a swap for some added cash they can spend to help pay for Wandy Asigen and anyone else they covet.

This suggests one of two things. One one hand, valuing international bonus money at the moment could have them steering clear of anyone who rejected a qualifying offer. Signing any of those players would eliminate $1 million from the Mets as part of the penalty for going over the highest luxury tax threshold.

The counterargument based on those trade rumors is the Mets are just looking for added cash to replenish the $1 million they believe they’ll need to part with. Trading for the international pool money will alleviate some of the penalty that would be tossed their way by signing a QO-rejector.

The Mets are wearing a tight mask this offseason, leaving their intentions unknown

It’s so unclear what the Mets plan to do. Back in November, they were one of the teams who hadn’t met with Framber Valdez.

Now, more than a month later, they have with him. Our signals are getting crossed up! Do they want him or not?

Avoiding any of the players who rejected a qualifying offer will make navigating the final months of the MLB offseason difficult. Several of those players would fit nicely on the Mets roster. Players who don’t come with that penalty we could see joining the Mets are ones who’d force them into a different kind of zone of uncomfortability. Players like Cody Bellinger and Alex Bregman have no reason to ask for short term deals.

Sometimes actions are completely unrelated. Other instances, like this one, feel way too connected. The Mets weren’t scared about losing two draft picks and $1 million in cash they could spend on amateur free agents last offseason when they agreed to pay Juan Soto. This year’s free agent crop is much different.

Several questions need to be answered before taking the plunge into a deal with a qualifying offer player. You want to know if they’re worth the penalty as it essentially comes to you as a trade, too. Secondly, is the contract length appropriate to suffer the consequences? Michael King signing the deal he did with the San Diego Padres and opting out after one season made him impractical.