The Yankees have been the subject of much of this week’s reporting regarding Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Juan Soto, so it makes sense that Mets supporters would ask, “Hey, what about us?”
It’s very likely that the Yankees will sign one of those players (though it’s unclear if they’ll raise payroll enough to sign both). Although the Mets are not in the running for Soto, they are still very much in the running for Yamamoto.
It’s just not the right time for Soto and the Mets. The Mets aren’t in trade talks for Soto, Tyler Glasnow of the Rays, or pretty much anybody else who would require a sizable prospect capital outlay because they want to contend in 2024 without sacrificing the future.
That doesn’t mean the Mets can’t qualify for the postseason in 2024 or even go as far as the World Series, as the unexpected Arizona Diamondbacks did this season. However, their window is not open in a sell-the-farm-for-Soto kind of way, as they have a new manager, head of baseball operations, and new prospects in the system following last year’s trade deadline.
In a year, when will Soto be a free agent? Of course, that might be a different story, but not just yet.
The Yankees are feeling more pressure to win the World Series in 2024, so they’re willing to pull off a spectacular trade for Soto, who is only expected to sign a one-year rental agreement with the team that acquires him.
Regarding Yamamoto, he finds the history and symbolism of the Yankees and Dodgers fascinating. The less storied Mets, however—Steve Cohen is trying to alter that impression, but he hasn’t had enough time—have the greatest desire and financial resources to sign him. Even though there isn’t much buzz between the two sides, Yamamoto views them as real players for these reasons. The Mets will work hard to get him signed.
There is a scenario that could spell doom for New York baseball if Shohei Ohtani decides to sign with a team other than the Dodgers. This scenario has generated a lot of semi-informed gossip in baseball circles this week. If that happens, Los Angeles will have a lot of money to spend on Yamamoto.
Speaking of Ohtani, the Mets would undoubtedly make a strong effort to sign him if there were any hints in the business community that he would visit New York. However, there doesn’t appear to be any evidence as of yet.
Whichever team Yamamoto signs with, the Mets will still need to add a number of starting pitchers. Jordan Montgomery is currently a more probable high-end target than Blake Snell or Eduardo Rodriguez. The Mets anticipate signing more pitchers to one-year contracts, as they are currently doing with Luis Severino, and they plan to investigate the possibility of signing left-hander Shota Imanaga, another NPB pitcher.