3 best free agent pitchers not named Shohei Ohtani the Mets should target next winter

Shohei Ohtani is going to be the target for the New York Mets next winter. The two-way star can fill a rotation spot and become the DH. He fills two possible needs for them.

The Mets are actually in pretty good shape next year as far as major free agents go. Max Scherzer does have an opt out and Carlos Carrasco is in the final year of his deal. Bringing in Ohtani could mean the team decides to go with a six-man rotation as the Los Angeles Angels have done regularly with this unique athlete who was more familiar with this style from his days in Japan.

Ohtani isn’t the only big free agent the Mets should have on their minds. Next winter’s class of free agents offers them some other choices. How would any of these three look in a Mets uniform?

1) NY Mets free agent target for next winter: Yu Darvish

Yu Darvish might actually fit in perfectly with the Mets. Whether they add Ohtani or not (they should), there is space for an excellent arm like Darvish in the rotation. If things get too crowded, what’s to stop them from trading someone like Jose Quintana?

Darvish will turn 37 late in the 2023 season, making him a candidate for a contract similar yet not as pricey as Scherzer and Justin Verlander. He hasn’t been nearly as good as either of them. However, his dazzling 2022 numbers could be a sign that Darvish will age well as he nears 40.

A rotation of Darvish, Ohtani, and Kodai Senga is obviously an international sensation with all three coming from Japan. How realistic could it be for the Mets to land both Ohtani and Darvish in the offseason? It would probably mean Scherzer has opted out and isn’t coming back.

Darvish is more of a fallback plan in case the team isn’t able to secure Ohtani. So is this other starting pitcher the Mets can steal from a rival.