The New York Mets need to land starting pitching, but one of the top names on the market doesn’t seem to be a likely addition.
According to Jon Heyman of the New York Post, the Mets are unlikely to pursue Framber Valdez, mainly due to contract structure rather than what he can bring on the mound.
While Valdez fits what the Mets need as an elite frontline starter, the cost of the deal he’s expected to land doesn’t fit with how the Mets prefer to operate.
“They seem unlikely to do a super long deal, which is not their thing,” Heyman wrote. “So an elite free agent Framber Valdez, whose comps are Max Fried and Corbin Burnes, seems unlikely even though they did meet with Valdez in November.”
Compared to Max Fried and Corbin Burnes, Valdez should be in the tier of pitchers who command long-term, high-dollar commitments.
The meeting in November shows there was at least some level of interest, but it looks like they just checked in rather than showing legitimate interest.
The Mets have also been selective with long-term pitching contracts, as Heyman touched on.
For fans hoping for a splash, this may be disappointing. Unless Valdez’s market isn’t where most expect it to be, the Mets appear more likely to spend elsewhere.
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