Reese Kaplan -- FAs Who Could Become Mets Starting Pitchers

We last looked at the offensive free agents worth consideration as the Mets definitely need to score more runs, but just as importantly they need to prevent the opposition from doing the same.  Going into 2025 with a recovering Kodai Senga, David Peterson, maybe Tylor Megill and maybe Jose Butto the Mets most definitely need some help. 

Some of the departing free agents deserve a second look starting with Sean Manaea.  Luis Severino and Jose Quintana also could provide depth but not at the top of the rotation.  Towards that end the club needs to look at spending some of their new found payroll flexibility to supplement the number 2 level pitcher (if not number 1).  Let’s take a look:

Starting Pitchers

Corbin Burnes — Well known to POBO David Stearns is Corbin Burnes who broke in as a rookie with the Brewers in 2018.  Since then he’s won a Cy Young Award and appeared in 4 consecutive All Star Games.  This ending season with the Orioles he went 15-9 with a 2.92 ERA and was paid Just under $16 million.  Going into his age 31 season he’s probably looking for a 6-7 year deal paying closer to $30 million per year.  His career ERA is a sparkling 3.19. 

Gerrit Cole — If the Bronx Bombers continue to live up to their name and bomb out of the World Series then Gerrit Cole might exercise his option to find a new home at a higher rate of pay.  It’s doubtful he would get it as the Yankees are committed to overpaying $36 million per year from now through his age 37 season in 2028.  A career 3.18 ERA is formidable but not at those prices for the latter stages of his career for a guy who has had injury issues.  Still, the 6-time All Star also owns a Cy Young Award on his mantle.

Blake Snell — Here’s another career top pitcher who has an opt out clause with the Giants.  The big southpaw also owns a career 3.19 ERA to accompany his record of two Cy Young Awards and one All Star appearance.  Right now he’s being paid $32 million and has a $30 million player option with deferral for 2025.  His Giants tenure ends after this season if he stays put, so he might indeed look at what a guy like Cole gets and he might feel better securing his future elsewhere beyond 2025.
 
Yusei Kikuchi — Another southpaw but without the enviable pedigree on his stat sheet, Kikuchi has split time between Seattle and Toronto before settling to end his 2024 season with Houston.  He appeared in 10 games for the Astros and was brilliant there, going 5-1 with a 2.70 ERA and a WHIP of 0.993 while striking out over 11 and walking a hair over 2 per 9 IP.  He was last earning $10 million and will want to cash in on his recent success.  The question is whether it was an outlier for an otherwise undistinguished career or did the Astros help straighten out his mechanics so he could deliver at that level?  He’s going to be 35 next year so it’s not unreasonable to think a 2 or 3 year contract with option to terminate might work if the numbers advance to say $14-$17 million.

Michael Wacha — A former Met who was pretty horrific while in New York, it’s unlikely he’s high on the club’s radar.  For his career he’s a 3.89 ERA pitcher who doesn’t possess strikeout stuff.  He was very good for the Royals last year and actually is on a road of three straight very solid seasons.  Turning 35 in 2025 he’s coming off a $16 million payday and could earn the same if KC chooses to keep him around.  If not, then it’s anyone’s guess how a mostly inconsistent pitcher at that age is worth.

Freddy Peralta — Another former Brewer still under 30 is inexpensive for moderate performance.  Milwaukee holds a pair of $6 million options if they want to keep him.  If not, then he’s likely going to get a long term deal with a bump in pay, something along the lines of 4-5 years at say $10 million per season.  Interesting but not real tempting other than his age.
 
Max Fried — He may be the arm the Mets covet the most after the former Cy Young winners.  He would be stripped away from the Braves where he’s put up a career record of 73-36 with an ERA of 3.07.  The lefty earns $15 million right now and there’s no option with Atlanta.  He’s earned 3 Gold Gloves, a Silver Slugger (no longer applicable in the days of designated hitters) and a pair of All Star appearances.  Turning 32 for the 2025 season he’s likely looking at a 4-6 year contract but probably won’t bump much higher than $20 million per season due to how much time he’s missed on the IL.

Jack Flaherty — Most recently a Los Angeles Dodger, Flaherty can throw quality innings and is still under 30.  However, his on-again/off-again top pitching has led to a 3.68 career ERA and he’s ending his 2024 season making $14 million.  I think of him as a younger Michael Wacha (which is not a good thing). 
 
Nick Martinez — After failing to do much in the major league, he spent a long interval in Japan before returning to the USA.  For the Reds last year he was very good (surprisingly so given his career track record) and earned $14 million to provide a 10-7 record with a 3.10 ERA.  Splitting time between the pen and the rotation might be a good thing as his previous two years all sported ERAs under 3.50 as well.  Still, rolling the dice on someone turning 35 already earning more money than Manaea and Severino did last year doesn’t seem like a shrewd move. 
 
Shane Bieber — For a long term investment, former Cy Young Award winner Shane Beiber was terrific during his entire Cleveland career, but he’s down and out right now with a May Tommy John surgery which will likely keep him out of action until August or perhaps 2026.  Still, he’s just 30 years old right now and for a guy to keep in your back pocket whose ending salary was $13.25 million it’s not the dumbest idea in the world but won’t help much for 2025. 
 
Trevor Williams — Former Met Trevor Williams may hold a grudge after being booted to the curb after pitching well for the Mets, but as a starting pitcher since leaving his 2024 was a standout.  In 13 Washington Nationals starts he went 6-1 with a 2.03 ERA.  He earned $7 million and probably will look to get a modest bump up given his somewhat non-descript numbers bouncing between the rotation and the pen.  He’ll turn 34 in 2025.