5 free agent starting pitchers the Mets should stay far away from this offseason

The New York Mets will be in the free agency market looking for multiple pitchers to fill various vacancies in their rotation. Among the options that will be available this winter are pitchers such as Aaron Nola, Blake Snell, Clayton Kershaw, and Yoshinobu Yamamoto, among others.

The Mets must be cautious when selecting who would fill the vacancies they have so as not to repeat scenarios like the signings of Justin Verlander and Max Scherzer. In this sense, there are five options in the market that the team should stay away from because they may imply a risk for the organization moving forward.

The Mets need to stay away from a top-market pitcher this winter

The free agency market for starting pitchers brings with it various options, but one name stands out because of his track record. Soon-to-be Hall of Famer, Clayton Kershaw, would be a free agent this winter at 36.

Kershaw has been a phenomenal pitcher in his major league career. The Los Angeles Dodgers left-hander has a career ERA below 2.50 and has amassed three Cy Young Awards, one MVP Award, ten All-Star Game selections, and a Gold Glove.

Despite being an efficient and dominant pitcher during his MLB tenure, Kershaw's age and injury history make him a risky candidate for any team. Additionally, after what was evidenced by Scherzer and Verlander, the Mets should be more cautious when selecting older pitchers to lead their team's rotation.

Likewise, Kershaw will command a short-term contract with an AAV equal to or greater than $20 million. For a similar annual fee, the Mets could sign a pitcher like Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who has the stuff to be an MLB ace and enough youth to contribute with less risk of injury.