What the Adam Ottavino signing means for the Liam Hendriks rumors

The New York Mets have brought Adam Ottavino back on a two-year $14.5 million dollar deal. The deal includes an opt-out after the first year. Ottavino had an outstanding debut season with the Mets and can hopefully repeat the season he just had.

Prior to the Ottavino signing, the Mets were linked to the White Sox in a potential Liam Hendriks trade. Hendriks is still an elite closer who the White Sox would only want to move because of his contract. He's owed $29 million dollars over the next two seasons.

Ottavino was brought back to be a late-game arm for the Mets. New York also has Edwin Diaz back to close, and brought in David Robertson and Brooks Raley. The bullpen at the back-end looks stacked. Even with that being said, the question has to be asked.

Can the Mets still trade for Liam Hendriks after signing Adam Ottavino?

Is it likely? I'd say no. The Mets have four reliable late-game arms already in their bullpen. They do still need to acquire another arm, but it doesn't have to be one of this magnitude. Hendriks is a star.

While it's probably unlikely the Mets acquire Hendriks, I can't rule anything out under Steve Cohen. We all know he's willing to spend whatever it takes to put out a product he believes is good enough to win it all.

If the Mets are able to find a trade that makes sense for Hendriks, I bet they pull the trigger. However, there're many teams who could use a closer including a team like the Dodgers who might be a little bit more desperate considering the Mets have their late-game arms already.

If the value is there, they do it. If not, they don't. They don't have to do this trade right now. If it turns out they need bullpen help later in the season, they can always trade for a reliever at the deadline. Who knows, maybe Hendriks will be available then too!

The Mets have done a nice job fortifying the back-end of the bullpen to make it good enough where they don't have to overpay in a trade. If the right deal comes along, I'm confident the Mets would welcome him with open arms in an effort to form a "super bullpen."