Steve Cohen is closer to his casino dream, 3 biggest gambles the NY Mets can make

There was big Citi Field news on Monday. New York Mets owner Steve Cohen is a layer of red tape closer to getting his casino. The area around Citi Field and Shea Stadium before it has never had much to offer the fans. The addition of a casino along with hotel and other amenities is sure to transform the area into an atmosphere where you actually want to hang around.

To celebrate, the Mets might feel the need to make a gamble of their own. Looking exclusively at potential free agent additions because every trade is a gamble in one way or another, these are three of the biggest they could possibly make for the rotation, the lineup, and the bullpen.

Starting Pitcher: Lucas Giolito to stay healthy

Lucas Giolito was a realistic option for the Mets going into the 2024 season. He fit the mold of what they did that winter well as a guy who had flashed excellence in the past but also was down at times. He ended up missing all of 2024 due to injury but returned in 2025 to make 26 starts for the Boston Red Sox while posting a 3.41 ERA.

Familiarity with newly hired Mets pitching coach Justin Willard who came over from the BoSox can help or hurt this gamble from coming true. Willard will already have some sense of familiarity with him. His thoughts can help David Stearns decide if he is, in fact, a worthwhile gamble to take on.

The immediate risk with Giolito is his recent injuries. He ended up on the IL late with elbow soreness. In his first year back from Tommy John surgery, it’s a red flag the Mets should be cautious about. They still have Frankie Montas on the books for another year.

The Mets can always go much bigger than Giolito and sign Framber Valdez. That, however, feels less like a gamble and more like overpaying for a pitcher bound to fade.