Mets in contact with Justin Verlander & Jameson Taillon, the latter a potential bargain
The Mets are looking to fill their out their 2023 rotation with at least two experienced free agent starters needed for the roster
What’s Up with the Mets? 🍎
According to Ken Rosenthal the Mets have spoken to 2022 Cy Young winner Justin Verlander over Zoom (Athletic)
Why Verlander would make sense for the Mets under the right conditions (Story)
Rosenthal also reported that the Mets have been in contact with RHP Jameson Taillon
The Mets feel Jacob deGrom prefers to stay with the Mets under the right conditions (New York Post)
Former Met Asdrubal Cabrera incited a brawl in the Venezuelan Winter league after he went after a player who celebrated a home run (NY Post)
Jameson Taillon could be a nice value addition to the Mets rotation ✍🏻
The Mets rotation is currently in a state of flux with Jacob deGrom, Chris Bassitt and Taijuan Walker as free agents. The Mets picked up the option on Carlos Carrasco so as it stands currently the rotation is a mix of Carrasco, Max Scherzer, Tylor Megill, David Peterson, and Joey Lucchesi.
That absolutely will not cut it in a competitive National League East and the organization obviously understands that as they continue to check in on the free agent pitchers on the market. As such, Ken Rosenthal of the Athletic recently reported that the team checked in on free agent RHP Jameson Taillon.
While Taillon is no replacement for deGrom or Chris Bassitt, he would be a solid addition to the middle or back of the rotation. Last season with the Yankees, Taillon went 14-5 with a 3.91 ERA. He is a pitch-to-contact pitcher, having recorded 151 strikeouts in 177 innings in 2022, and while he posted a league-average 100 ERA+ he had a solid fWAR of 2.3 and just turned 30 years old in November.
Taillon has had a small issue with walks - he walked 2.7 batters per nine innings in 2021 with the Yankees but improved that mark to 1.6 walks per nine innings in 2022. He did give up home runs at a higher rate than he did with the Pirates but that could be a product of playing in the smaller dimensions of Yankee Stadium.
Walker is also 30-years-old and put together two solid seasons for the Mets. His loss will be felt if the team does not re-sign him but Taillon could serve as a direct replacement in that rotation spot for the club at a reasonable price. He is a free agent for the first time in his career, having earned $5.8 million in his final year of arbitration in 2022.
He should be in-line for similar, if not fewer dollars than Walker earned in 2022, which could make him one of the great values in the pitching market for the 2023 season.
Hot Stove 🔥
The Mariners have reportedly checked in on infielders Trea Turner, Kolton Wong, and Gleyber Torres (CBS Sports)
Despite opting out of his contract with the Twins, Minnesota is motivated to re-sign SS Carlos Correa long term (MLB Network)
The Phillies have a clear need at shortstop and Jon Heyman predicts they will sign one of the top free agents on the market (MLB Network)
After being non-tendered by the Dodgers, OF/1B Cody Bellinger is drawing significant interest from teams (CBS Sports)
Both the Giants and Rangers have expressed interest in free agent OF Mitch Haniger (Athletic)
Evan Longoria hopes to play two more years - he is a free agent for the first time in his career (New York Post)