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.