The Mets pitchers and catchers show up for spring training in less than two weeks and team officials on Friday afternoon should know if Trevor Bauer will be part of the attendees.
Ace-right agent Rachel Luba announced on Thursday on Twitter that Bauer has reduced his decisions to two teams, with all indications pointing to the Mets and Dodgers as finalists.
Bauer, the market’s leading free agent pitcher, received an offer from the Mets about three weeks ago, according to a source in the industry. The belief in the industry has been that if the deals are close, Bauer will choose the Mets because he has a desire to grow his personal brand in the largest market possible.
Bauer has tried to become baseball’s highest-paid pitcher in terms of average annual value, but the Mets’ initial offer for him was less than the $ 36 million a year Gerrit Cole received from the Yankees, according to a source. . The offer was expected to be within the three- to four-year period (north of $ 30 million annually) and include at least one exclusion.
Last season, Bauer, 30, won the Cy Young National League award, after going 5-4 with a 1.73 ERA in 11 outings for the Reds. His incorporation would give the Mets a dynamic 1-2 hit on their rotation, with Jacob deGrom (who won the Cy Young Award in 2018 and 19) as another component.
The Mets have already enjoyed a fruitful winter with new owner Steve Cohen, with the trade led by Francisco Lindor and Carlos Carrasco of Cleveland. Bauer’s addition would bring together three components of the Indies ’World Series that ran in 2016.
James McCann and Trevor May, both signed as free agents, are the other significant additions to the Mets this winter. That doesn’t include Marcus Stroman, who accepted the Mets ’qualifying offer to return for 2021.
The Mets ’rotation to start the season would potentially be from Grom, Bauer, Carrasco, Stroman and David Peterson. In June, the team expects Noah Syndergaard to return from Tommy John’s surgery rehab to provide another high-octane arm.
Other rotation possibilities include Joey Lucchesi and Jordan Yamamoto, both of whom went into business and have minor league options.
Wherever it lands, Bauer’s words will be examined after multiple incidents of harassment on social media. The highlight was that he harassed a college student on Twitter two years ago and later apologized. Bauer’s responses to the woman included digging up a photo of her chronology of her drink before her 21st birthday, which was ridiculed by her 414,000 followers. Bauer tweeted 17 times to the woman or other people while talking about it for three days.
“They let me know that some of the interactions related to a specific Twitter exchange may have had a negative impact,” Bauer said in a recent statement. “It simply came to our notice then. I will take responsibility for my public platform with more responsibility in the future. “
Bauer’s addition would put the Mets against or above the $ 210 million luxury tax threshold. If they exceed the figure, they will pay a 20% penalty for every dollar spent above $ 210 million.
But even with Bauer, the Mets may not end up spending as they look for potential upgrades in midfield and third base.
If the Mets don’t sign Bauer, they could pivot toward a mid-rotation option like Jake Odorizzi or James Paxton.