Shohei Ohtani, Manny Machado, 3 more stars who should already want Steve Cohen's money
The New York Mets will be right in the thick of the Shohei Ohtani and Manny Machado sweepstakes. Ohtani would be the dream signing as the best player in baseball, and Machado would be what we thought Correa would, but even better.
While signing one of those players would be great, they're not the only guys who will be looking for some of Steve Cohen's money. The Mets will have other options to pivot to if Ohtani and Machado stay where they are or end up elsewhere. They might even look into other great players in addition to Ohtani or Machado, it's impossible to rule anything out at this point!
While we don't know who the Mets will sign, one thing is certain. They'll be active, and they'll land someone. There's no reason to think any differently. Here are some players the Mets can pursue.
1) NY Mets free agent target who wants Steve Cohen's money: Corbin Burnes
Corbin Burnes just basically announced without actually announcing that the relationship between himself and the Brewers organization is a mess. The Brewers disrespected him by saying he was the reason they didn't make the playoffs, and he's understandably very angry about that.
It was unlikely the Brewers, a team that's resisted spending much more than they have to would pay to retain Burnes when he hit free agency anyway, but this arbitration fiasco all but confirms he will be in another uniform the first chance he gets. If Burnes does hit free agency, (or the trade market), the Mets should be all over it. Burnes is a free agent after the 2024 season.
Burnes is one of the best, if not the best pitcher in baseball. We all know how dominant Jacob deGrom is, but Burnes has been elite and healthy for the last three seasons.
Burnes won the Cy Young Award in 2021 after posting a 2.43 ERA in 28 starts and 167 innings pitched. He led the league with 12.6 K/9 while walking just 1.8/9. deGrom was definitely better, but he only pitched half of the season. Burnes deserved that award and was the best player on a Brewers team that made the postseason.
Burnes then followed that up by making 33 starts which led the league. He posted a 2.94 ERA in 202 innings pitched, striking out 10.8/9 and walking just 2.3/9. His numbers looked slightly worse but Burnes was healthier and pitched more. Saying he was the reason they missed the playoffs is insane.
Burnes should leave Milwaukee the first chance he gets and go to a team that pays him like one of the best pitchers in baseball. The Mets have shown they're very willing to pay for starting pitching.
2) NY Mets free agent target who wants Steve Cohen's money: Aaron Nola
Aaron Nola is a free agent after the season. What better way to stop facing him than to sign him away from one of, if not the biggest rival they have? Nola is an elite pitcher and a free agent after the season. If he does hit free agency, the Mets should pounce.
After an off year in 2021, Nola was back in the Cy Young conversation last season. The right-hander posted a 3.25 ERA in 32 starts and 205 innings pitched. He struck out 10.3 batters per nine and in typical Nola fashion walked just 1.3/9. That led the league.
Nola is as durable as they come, which is something this Mets rotation lacks. He's pitched at least 200 innings in three of the last four full seasons (excluding 2020) and has made at least 32 starts in each of the last four full 162-game seasons.
Nola will be a free agent after the year. Carlos Carrasco will be a free agent and Max Scherzer could potentially enter free agency as well. With Kodai Senga the only real long-term option in this rotation, a Nola signing makes a lot of sense.
Nola and the Phillies have recently extended extension figures so it's possible he doesn't even hit free agency but nothing has been agreed upon yet. If he does reach free agency, he's an arm the Mets should consider.
3) NY Mets free agent target who wants Steve Cohen's money: Julio Urias
Julio Urias has quietly become one of the better pitchers in the game. When talking about the Dodgers pitchers, players like Clayton Kershaw and Walker Buehler always come up, and deservingly so, but Urias has been one of the best pitchers in the National League in each of the last two seasons.
The southpaw posted a 2.16 ERA in 31 starts and 175 innings pitched. He led the league in ERA and his 194 ERA+ led the league as well. Urias was a Cy Young finalist finishing in third.
This outstanding season followed a 20-win campaign in which Urias posted a sub-3.00 ERA and finished seventh in the NL Cy Young balloting. Don't let the lack of an all-star appearance fool you, Urias is elite.
Bob Nightengale of USA Today reported that Urias is unlikely to remain a Dodger after this season because of the pitch limits the team has set on him in his career. Urias leaving the Dodgers would be great news for the Mets, and the southpaw leaving Los Angeles for the Mets would be even better.
Urias is only 26 years old and is one of the best pitchers in baseball. He's hitting free agency in his prime and would give the Mets a solidified ace in their rotation for many years to come.
If Urias is absolutely leaving the Dodgers, it opens up the possibility for the Mets to swoop in and steal him away. If I'm Billy Eppler I absolutely consider doing it.