Mets predicted to make offseason splash, sign $114M World Series arm after Ranger Suarez deal

Hunter Cookston

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Mets predicted to make offseason splash, sign $114M World Series arm after Ranger Suarez deal image

The New York Mets know that adding another reliable arm this offseason is crucial after a year in which starting pitching proved to be a major weakness. However, on Wednesday, they lost one of their top targets in Ranger Suárez.

“The Red Sox are going to add left-hander Ranger Suárez to their already-strong rotation. It is reportedly a five-year deal worth $130MM for the Boras Corporation client. It appears to be fairly straightforward, reportedly not containing any deferrals, opt-outs or no-trade protection. The Sox have a full 40-man and will need to make a corresponding move to make this official,” MLB Trade Rumors’ Darragh McDonald wrote.

With Suárez off the board, the last remaining option for the Mets appears to be Framber Valdez, a World Series champion known for his durability.

“Still, this is someone who has logged 176 or more innings four years in a row, and prior to his second-half swoon, he had a 2.75 ERA over his first 19 starts. Valdez may not get the term that he wants, given some of the concerns and the fact that he's a bit older than some other available options, but the lefty should still do well,” Bleacher Report’s Tim Kelly wrote.

SNY’s Anthony McCarron believes the Mets will land Valdez in the near future.

“So much online handwringing over the Mets winter, eh? It’s not over yet and, at least in the top-of-the-rotation part of the market, waiting and giving a shorter-term deal works. Hello, Framber Valdez! Since 2022, only Logan Webb has thrown more innings than Valdez and the Mets sure need reliable length considering how, um, unreliable their rotation was last season. Valdez, 32, gets tons of ground balls,” McCarron wrote.

The Mets are in need of a frontline starter, and Valdez would bring championship experience to a rotation that lacked consistency a season ago. There are some character concerns following what appeared to be an intentional cross-up with his catcher last year, but his track record remains difficult to ignore.

New York has had a relatively quiet offseason in terms of additions in Queens. However, a deal for Valdez would immediately generate buzz and address one of the roster’s most glaring needs.

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Contributing writer

Contributing Writer