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Is signing Shohei Ohtani or trading for Juan Soto the better move for the Mets?
Which superstar is better for the Mets?
The New York Mets have done a lot under the fat wallet of Steve Cohen. They've traded and extended Francisco Lindor. They've broken records with short term contracts with Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander. The Mets have even paid players to go away on more than one occasion. Scherzer and Verlander were two of them.
Cohen's money is the club's most dangerous weapon. Will it go to use once more?
This offseason could offer the Mets the opportunity to add a true superstar to the roster. One is free agent Shohei Ohtani. The other is trade candidate Juan Soto. Each brings something entirely different. Who would you rather have?
Pros of the Mets signing Shohei Ohtani
No one can do what Ohtani can. Until a late season injury knocked him out of being available to pitch next year, he was the obvious one for the Mets to go after. Now it's not quite as clear.
The biggest pro with Ohtani is it'll only cost money. The farm system remains intact. Not a single piece of the future is lost. The Mets gain a power hitting DH and a pitcher as of 2025 as long as he heals. What's to question?
Cons of the Mets signing Shohei Ohtani
Do we even know for sure Ohtani will come back and pitch well? Not even Miss Cleo has the answer. The Mets could very well end up with an expensive designated hitter. It's not terribly bad if he's consistently clobbering 45 home runs yet it feels overpriced when he doesn't play the field.
The amount of money the Mets will need to pay Ohtani, and at his age, is insane. If he's only hitting, Ohtani falls well short of a $400 million deal and probably should get less than $300 million. What makes him so special is his ability to pitch so amazingly well in addition to hitting for power.
You need to be confident enough that you'll get innings from him on the mound. Right now, nothing feels too certain. How long can a guy seriously stay as great as he has been?
Pros of the Mets trading for Juan Soto
The Mets add a left-handed slugger who can play either corner outfield position. Those spots happen to be two of the more questionable on the roster. What better way to fill it than with a superstar in his mid-20s?
Soto has been the real deal even if not every season has him in the MVP conversation. He's an on-base machine who'd completely transform the Mets starting lineup. All of the pros of trading for Soto are obvious. What about the cons?
Cons of the Mets trading for Juan Soto
Say goodbye to at least one of the top three Mets prospects and a whole lot more. The Padres aren't sending him anywhere unless they reap some reward back for it. They need to feel victorious in the deal. This isn't happening without Luisangel Acuna, Drew Gilbert, or Jett Williams. If you’re high on any of the breakout pitchers from the 2023 season, forget all about hugging them tightly.
With Soto, the big con comes in with how uncertain it is the Mets get to keep him. Unless they can guarantee a trade and sign, they run the risk of surrendering a lot for only one year of his service. Those who'd prefer to wait until after 2024 will need to be cautious. Any team that has him under control first might always go above and beyond to ensure he never gets to free agency.
Is Shohei Ohtani or Juan Soto better for the Mets this offseason?
The Mets only get one shot at Ohtani. They could get at least two with Soto. This doesn't mean the waiting game is the approach to take. If the Mets truly want Soto, going out and getting him now is what you do.
It does feel unrealistic for the Mets to pursue either with full force. The most boring scenario is for Ohtani to sign with the Los Angeles Dodgers and Soto stays put. The boring occurrence is what's best for the Mets.
Soto staying in San Diego another year seems to actually increase his chances of hitting free agency. The team has a lot tied up in other players who'll be difficult to move. They'd be wise to keep Soto. However, they seem to have already made enough unwise moves to make trading him a realistic possibility.
This doesn't answer the most important question of all: is signing Ohtani or trading for Soto the better move?
Longevity wins. The Mets are far more likely to get a full decade of awesomeness from Soto than they would from Ohtani. Even at the cost of prospects, it's the trigger to pull.
Odds are the Mets may prefer to look in other directions. Build a team now around seeking Soto out in free agency next offseason. If he never makes it or signs elsewhere, target the next best thing in a trade. You'll still have your bullets. You'll be closer to knowing which ones you want to keep.
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