New York Mets Viewed As Team That Needs Japanese Star Pitcher
The New York Mets have shown more interest in Yoshinobu Yamamoto than they have with most other free agents in recent memory. Owner Steve Cohen clearly wants the superstar Japanese pitcher on his side moving forward and seems to be willing to spend big for that to happen.
Yamamoto and the Mets reportedly met for a second time at Cohen's home in Connecticut. It's uncertain what was discussed during the meeting, but that's typically a good sign.
MLB.com ranked the eight teams that need Yamamoto the most, which included New York taking the No. 3 spot on the list. Thomas Harrigan had the following to say about the Mets:
"With so many other deep-pocketed clubs in the mix for Yamamoto, including the crosstown-rival Yankees, owner Steve Cohen absolutely needs to win this bidding war to maintain the aura surrounding him. When Cohen bought the team, his purchase came with the unspoken promise that his riches would be able to woo any star the Mets desired, provided the player didn’t have any reservations about playing in New York (like Shohei Ohtani reportedly did). Losing the Yamamoto sweepstakes would challenge that perception. Of course, the Mets also have an obvious need for Yamamoto on the mound, even if they aren’t planning to make a big push toward contending until 2025."
The team isn't expected to compete for a World Series in 2024. However, Cohen has indicated that he wants to build a roster that can in 2025, so adding Yamamoto would help him achieve that goal much quicker than if they weren't able to sign the phenom.
When also considering the Mets' rotation behind their ace Kodai Senga is Jose Quintana, Luis Severino, Tylor Megill, and Joey Lucchesi, there's an obvious need for rotation help.
