It seems like the NY Mets want to eat cake but can’t decide on a fork or spoon

The New York Mets want a starting pitcher but also don’t want to sign anyone long-term. They seem hesitant to also trade anything significant to get one. The story of the day to begin the week came courtesy of Will Sammon whose appearance on SNY further explained how the free agent class of starting pitchers next winter may have a lot to do with their behavior this offseason.

Waiting for a free agent comes with all of the usual risks. There’s no guarantee of who is actually available. An injury can instantly change your feelings about a guy. Next year’s free agent class of starting pitchers is headlined by Tarik Skubal, the guy most coveted on the trade market that could potentially reinvent the way we think about this Mets offseason.

We understand why the Mets might want to avoid selling the farm to get him. At the same time, they aren’t willing to add anyone from this winter’s class. Something’s gotta give. Unless they go into next year with the same or similar rotation as they finished with, which they can’t do, there needs to be some uncomfortability they accept.

The Mets can eat their starting pitcher cake with a fork or spoon

The Fork: Trade your prospects

Forkget about all of those concerns and forking add a starting pitcher via trade already. You already know who’s available. Things can change in either direction. One sweetened deal from another team can immediately eliminate some of your options. Put together your best package and let’s ride.

Eating cake with a fork is a violent act and leaves some residue. Trading away the prospects you hold dear might be scary. When you use a fork, the outer layer of chocolate might escape and remain on your plate. That could turn out to be the best player in the deal.

Hypothetically, if the Mets were to trade Jonah Tong for Freddy Peralta, the worry is Peralta bolts after the season ends while Peralta becomes a star for the Milwaukee Brewers. It’s the price paid for not paying a financial price which the Mets seem equally as avoidant to do.

The Spoon: Sign your starting pitcher

Spooner or later, the free agent starting pitcher market won’t have anyone available. We have Framber Valdez, Ranger Suarez, Zac Gallen, and Michael King lugging around qualifying offer penalties and some red flags. Lesser choices include players like Chris Bassitt, Zack Littell, and Lucas Giolito. Then there’s the whole market of guys whose needle-moving abilities measure lower than a belch on the Richter scale.

Choose a spoon for your cake, you approach things more calmly. You’re able to get every part of the slice, scooping up every part of the player, including the money owed to him. You can leave a much cleaner plate with the spoon but you’ll definitely feel fuller by the end. What’s wrong with feeling full? Your dinner has been spoiled and you won’t have room for something better.

It’s hard to make a legitimate case any of this year’s free agent starting pitchers were a must for the Mets. Fans seem to have accepted this which is why no one is pushing for a signing. The Mets are patiently eating their cake and taking a break while the next cup of coffee comes out.

What should the Mets do?

There’s no crime against using a spork although there are probably some states that’ll like to outlaw them and others who’d mandate they are the only utensil used for purposes of inclusion. In either case, the Mets are best to stab at the starting pitcher market with a fork and make a trade then reassess the situation next offseason. Your coveted trade assets can see their stock rise or fall. 

Make the trade now. Let the spoon clean up in free agency next offseason even if it requires you to simply re-sign someone you’ve already landed.