Mets Focused on Dodgers’ Free Agent Rather Than Top-End Starters: Report

The New York Mets, fresh off agreeing to terms with free agent starting pitcher Frankie Montas, are reportedly inquiring about another right-handed free agent to join their starting rotation.

Joel Sherman of the New York Post reported Monday that the Mets are the latest team to show interest in Walker Buehler, who recorded the final out for the Los Angeles Dodgers in their five-game World Series victory against the New York Yankees.

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The Mets were finalists a year ago for right-handed starter Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who ultimately signed for a record $325 million with the Dodgers. However, with the team hot in pursuit of free agent outfielder Juan Soto, their financial priorities have shifted.

Now, Sherman reports, “the David Stearns Mets are forming a pattern on how they view free-agent starters — think short-term deals with upside — which is why they have inquired on Walker Buehler, among others.”

The Mets’ need for help in their starting rotation is obvious. Sean Manaea, Luis Severino and Jose Quintana are all free agents. Even after Montas’ reported two-year, $34 million contract becomes official, that leaves Stearns with two rotation vacancies to fill in theory.

Soto is reportedly seeking a $700 million contract, potentially exceeding that of Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani for the most lucrative contract ever signed by a baseball player.

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Even Mets owner Steve Cohen, with an estimated net worth of more than $21 billion, is ostensibly unwilling to extend his 2025 payroll to sign both the most expensive position player and the most expensive pitcher in this offseason’s free agent class.

Buehler, 30, is an intriguing bounceback candidate. He went 1-6 with a 5.38 ERA in 16 regular season starts for the Dodgers after returning from his second Tommy John surgery.

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In October, Buehler allowed runs in only one of the 15 postseason innings he pitched. His only loss came in Game 3 of the National League Division Series against the San Diego Padres, a game in which he allowed seven hits, six runs, and one walk without striking out a batter.

Buehler got the ball again in Game 3 of the NL Championship Series and threw four innings without allowing a run, striking out six. He started Game 3 of the World Series and threw five shutout innings at Yankee Stadium on Oct. 28, putting the Dodgers one win away from the title.

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After the Dodgers could not clinch in Game 4 — a planned bullpen game — Buehler appeared in the ninth inning of Game 5 two days later, an unplanned bullpen game. Three batters and three outs later, the Dodgers were World Series champions.

After the World Series, Los Angeles did not extend Buehler a qualifying offer, a one-year, $21 million contract for 2025. That gives him an advantage over free agents who received and rejected the qualifying offer, in that whichever team signs Buehler will not have to sacrifice a 2025 draft pick.

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From 2017-22, Buehler went 46-16 with a 3.02 ERA, twice finishing in the Top 10 in National League Cy Young Award voting.

Buehler has also reportedly drawn interest from the Atlanta Braves, the Yankees and the Athletics.

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