Mets Linked To Two-Time All-Star Starting Pitcher In Free Agency
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The New York Mets may not swing for the fences this offseason.
New York attempted to land former Orix Buffaloes ace Yoshinobu Yamamoto but missed out as the Los Angeles Dodgers signed him. There have been rumblings that the Mets may not make a major splash this offseason now and go big next year.
It's unclear what their plan is, but one intriguing player who has been mentioned as a fit for the Mets is former Milwaukee Brewers star Brandon Woodruff, according to ESPN's Kiley McDaniel.
"There are a lot of options for the starting pitcher spot," McDaniel said. "Blake Snell and Jordan Montgomery would demand years/money that wouldn't fit the Mets profile for this winter. Marcus Stroman and Shōta Imanaga might be too old and require too many years.
"Lucas Giolito could possibly fit, but the lower tier that includes Yariel Rodriguez, Sean Manaea, Michael Lorenzen, Mike Clevinger, James Paxton, Hyun-Jin Ryu, Frankie Montas, and Brandon Woodruff makes more sense for what the Mets are looking to do this winter."
Woodruff makes sense for the Mets especially if they don't plan on competing until the 2025 campaign. The two-time All-Star is a free agent but will miss the 2024 season. Although this is the case, Woodruff would still be a major pickup.
The 30-year-old has a career 3.10 ERA in seven seasons and logged a 2.28 ERA last season in 11 starts for Milwaukee. He compiled a 3.05 ERA in 27 appearances in 2022 and a 2.56 ERA in 30 starts in 2021.
He will return to the hill in 2025 and would go a long way in boosting the Mets' rotation.
