New York Mets
New York Mets owner Steve Cohen stated that he expects the team to contend immediately. Signing Cincinnati Reds starter Trevor Bauer would prove that he is a man of his word.
Cohen has ushered a new day in New York. He has stated that the Mets will act like the large market team that they are, that mediocrity is no longer acceptable. His proclamations have already made an impact in free agency, as Marcus Stroman signed his Qualifying Offer based on how impressed he was with Cohen’s press conference.
But those words will only go so far. The Mets need to back that up with actions. Their rotation, if healthy, is solid, but New York cannot count on Noah Syndergaard to stay on the mound. Stroman is a solid middle of the rotation arm, and Jacob deGrom is arguably the best pitcher in the game, but the Mets need far more if they want to be a viable World Series contender.
Bauer would be that missing piece to the rotation. Sandy Alderson has already gone out of his way to make sure that Bauer knows he would be wanted in New York, something that did not escape the Reds’ pitcher. He would not cure all of the Mets’ ills, but Bauer would be a tremendous start to that quest to return to the postseason.
Signing Trevor Bauer would be a sign that Steve Cohen is putting his money where his mouth is. It would send a message to the team, and the fanbase, that the Mets are ready to be the large market team they should be.