Despite Strong Yoshinobu Yamamoto Links, Are the Mets Set to Trade for This 2022 Cy Young Contender?

While the New York Mets are linked with several big free agents, especially, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, they don’t have blinders on and are keeping an open mind. After a terrible 2023, which saw their pitching take a nosedive, the team is desperately looking for high-quality pitchers. It is no surprise that they won’t stop with just one ace.

Even if they get NPB’s most sought-after name this year, the Mets will still keep their eyes on the trade market. One of the biggest names to emerge is the Chicago White Sox’ Dylan Cease. Can they go after the 2022 Cy Young finalist?

The New York Mets could choose to suitor Dylan Cease

Yoshinobu Yamamoto is expected to get a $200 million contract, Blake Snell a $130+ million contract, with other big pitchers also in the vicinity. The Mets already have to pay around $90 million to Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander just to see them play elsewhere. Could this all lead to them avoiding the free agent market altogether? Perhaps not where good pitchers are concerned, per John Harper.

Dylan Cease seems like an obvious pick owing to his performances in 2022. He was a Cy Young finalist with an excellent ERA of 2.20. Though he had a fall last season with an ERA of 4.58, Cease hopes to prove it as an anomaly. With a fastball that regularly goes above 95mph, the 27-year-old is one of the deadliest pitchers in the sport today.

Another highly beneficial point is that his free agency is still two years away. This would give the Mets even more control over Cease. As SNY reported, “The extra year of control that comes with Cease is sure to be tempting to the Mets.” At the same, his costs will be much higher and would require them to give up huge prospects to the White Sox. 

What is the price tag attached to Cease?

The White Sox would quite fairly ask for the most amazing prospects of the Amazin’ Mets. This could mean players like Jett Williams or Luisangel Acuna. That would be quite a gamble, especially when they have other pitchers available for trade as well.

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All of this depends on how ambitious the Mets are for 2024. If they do want to win, they’d have to spend big on free agents. If not moves like this can help in making a transition by providing stability while not increasing pressure on the payroll.

Will the team from Queens find their way back to the top? It’s still a massive wait-and-watch for one of the richest teams in MLB today.

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