3 biggest Mets contracts Steve Cohen may be forced to eat this year

2) NY Mets contract the team may have to eat: Eduardo Escobar

Plenty of Mets fans were ready to move on from Eduardo Escobar already last season. It seems like they nearly did. The signing of Carlos Correa would have made him a trade chip. Instead, he started off this year at third base.

Escobar is getting paid $9.5 million this year with a $500K buyout for next. This puts the Mets on the hook for $10 million. It’s hard to envision a scenario where his 2024 team option is actually picked up with Brett Baty clearly ready to start taking over at the hot corner even if there are some bumps and bruises along the way.

A lot of the same factors come into play with Escobar as they do with Carrasco except it is easier to find an infielder for the bench. Escobar, as a role-player, may not be as effective as we make ourselves believe. He doesn’t have speed or a great glove. His power is okay but not at a level where any team would fear him coming off the bench in a pinch-hitting opportunity.

While teams could give up something of value in exchange for Carrasco, it doesn’t seem like Escobar would have a whole lot of suitors outside of a huge injury and no other option. A platoon situation may work. Escobar seems a bit more like a “tenth man” for a starting lineup than an actual everyday player at this point.