The New York Mets announced the hiring of new general manager Billy Eppler last week. Mets owner Steve Cohen made a splash when he gave the newly-hired Eppler the ok to spend big in free agency. Well, Eppler is reportedly looking to make a splash of his own and is eyeing one particular position.
Eppler: Mets "Engaged In A Ton Of Starting Pitching" Talks https://t.co/QcDrWKnNSO pic.twitter.com/yzeW9CGqT9
— MLB Trade Rumors (@mlbtraderumors) November 26, 2021
Billy Eppler doesn't sound like someone who wants to waste any time. Particularly interesting is the part where Eppler says the Mets are “engaged in a ton of starting pitching right now.”
Owner Steve Cohen basically gave away the fact that the team was interested in lefty Steven Matz, a solid mid-rotation option- and former Met. So, it would make sense for the Mets to continue to shop for starters, especially with Noah Syndergaard out of town and Marcus Stroman possibly right behind him.
Per MLB Trade Rumors, Eppler and the Mets don't want to sign a free agent that will cost them their highest draft pick, which could eliminate them from the Robbie Ray sweepstakes. Ray, who won the American League Cy Young award for the Toronto Blue Jays, is perhaps the best free agent pitcher left with Justin Verlander heading back to the Houston Astros.
Cohen and Eppler could focus their attention on resigning Stroman and pairing him with someone like Ray, or San Francisco Giants ace Kevin Gausman, which would give the team a nice, 1-2-3 punch at the top of the rotation, with stud Jacob deGrom the club's ace.
Or, the Mets could eye the trade market. Per the Trade Rumors page, Eppler interestingly noted that the Mets could take on a bad contract from another team while effectively picking up a prospect in the process, something worth noting.
Whatever Steve Cohen, Billy Eppler and the Mets decide to do, it's clear they're playing to win now in a winnable National League East division. That should excite Mets fans.
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