Add another dominant arm to the New York Mets rotation
Last season, the New York Mets rotation was in shambles. Jacob deGrom continued to be the ace he has been, but aside from the emergence of David Peterson, he had absolutely no help.
While the Mets were a disappointing 26-34 last season, the rotation was a major part of why. New York starters posted a 5.37 ERA in 2020, 26th in the majors. The eventual return of Noah Syndergaard will help, but the Mets need more than that to solidify the pitching staff.
Enter Trevor Bauer. He has emerged as the top pitcher in free agency, timing his career season perfectly. The Cy Young candidate led the National League with a 1.73 ERA and a 0.795 WHiP, striking out 100 batters with 17 walks in 73 innings.
Bauer has repetitively stated his preference for one year deals and his desire to play for a winning team. For teams that are on the cusp, adding an arm such as his could make a major difference. That would definitely be the case with the Mets, as Bauer, deGrom, and a healthy Syndergaard could form a three headed monster that no other team could contend with. If Peterson continues to develop, the Mets rotation would be that much better. But that would involve opening the vaults.
That may be a lot easier this year. The New York Mets have a new owner, and Steve Cohen is looking to bring the team back to glory. The days of pinching every penny are over.