One of the major needs for the Mets this offseason is starting pitching.
With Luis Severino and Sean Manaea hitting the free agent market — the former signing a massive deal with the Athletics — New York needs to rebuild its rotation. They have already begun that reconstruction with the signings of Frankie Montas and former Yankees closer Clay Holmes, who they plan to convert into a starter.
But there’s more that needs to be done and with a flush market of starters, it’s no surprise that the Mets have expressed interest in a number of names.
Ken Rosenthal and Will Sammon of The Athletic report that the Mets are among the teams who have expressed interest in Nathan Eovaldi.
Eovaldi, 34, pitched to a 3.80 ERA and a 1.10 WHIP in 29 starts (170.2 IP) last season for the Texas Rangers. Of course, the Rangers consider re-signing Eovaldi “a priority” so the veteran right-hander may be out of reach.
Jack Flaherty, Nick Pivetta and Walker Buehler are other names the Mets are interested in. The Mets’ connection with Buehler has been reported on but The Athletic says New York has “at least checked in” on Flaherty and Pivetta.
Buehler struggled in 2024 for the Dodgers, posting a 5.38 ERA and 1.55 WHIP in 16 starts over 75.1 innings while striking out 64 — a career-low 7.6 per nine.
Pivetta, 31, struggled with Boston in 2024. He was 6-12 with a 4.14 ERA and a 1.13 WHIP across 27 appearances (26 starts). He also struck out 172 batters across 145.2 innings pitched
Flaherty, 29, was great for the Orioles and then the Dodgers last year. He had a 13-7 record and pitched to a 3.17 ERA with a 1.068 WHIP across 28 starts (162 IP).
Sean Manaea update
The biggest hole in the Mets’ starting rotation is Manaea who is still unsigned. The Mets are interested in re-signing the southpaw but The Athletic reports that Manaea is looking for a multi-year deal and that a fourth year has come up in discussions with at least one team this offseason.
Manaea, who will be 33 in February, pitched to a 12-6 record with a 3.47 ERA and 1.084 WHIP across 181.2 innings.
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