New York Mets’ Waiting Game Begins, as Off-Season Plans Slow Down Following Yoshinobu Yamamoto Snub

Things are not at all amazing for the New York Mets. Fans had hoped that after a 75-win season, the Mets would invest heavily to improve their squad. After all, it is what they are famous for, having had the highest payroll in the history of baseball last year. Yet things seem to be moving in a different direction. The Amazin’ Mets failed to sign Yoshinobu Yamamoto and are now looking to make a big change in their strategy.

Even though the Mets have a multi-billionaire Steve Cohen as their owner, it looks like the team’s new President David Stearns is looking to bring about a culture change in the organization. The first step? Curtailing costs!

A reasonably budgeted New York Mets

It’s rather funny to hear that the Mets are worried about high market costs. The team that has made it a habit of going on a massive shopping spree every year has decided to tone it down a little. According to The Athletic, “The belief is that the markets would have to change with prices coming down for the Mets to get involved on a serious level.” 

A record $325 million deal for Yoshinobu Yamamoto as well as the ridiculous $700 million contract for Shohei Ohtani have completely reset the market. The Mets, who already have a huge payroll to manage cannot add more weight on their shoulders. Especially as their previous strategy has proved to be a failure.

After a gigantic shopping spree in 2023, the Mets completely fell off the cliff. They followed a 105-win season with a shocking 75-win one. As a result, they looked for viable trades but that didn’t reduce their payroll either, because players like Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander are still getting paid by the Mets even when on different teams. Which means that the Amazin’ Mets do not have much flexibility. 

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Yoshinobu Yamamoto presented a unique opportunity which led to the Mets going all in on him. But even after matching the LA Dodgers’ $325 million offer, the Mets lost the Samurai Japan ace. So now the club is looking to focus more on the trade and pitching market.

The Amazin’ lack of pitchers 

The Mets currently don’t have an adequate supporter for Kodai Senga. Though the market is currently filled with pitching free agents, will Yamamoto’s deal also increase their demands? Especially as now the competition for those players will increase. 

But the Mets can always go to the trade market. With players like Corbin Burnes and Dylan Cease available, they’d provide the Mets with a low-cost solution to their problems, at least for this year. But will the Mets be okay with treating 2024 as a transition year? They’ll have to be.

Read more: Not Mets’ Unlimited Financial Power or Yankees’ Glorious History But Shohei Ohtani’s $680 Million Deferral That Swayed Yoshinobu Yamamoto