Carlos Rodon
The idea that the New York Mets would replace Jacob deGrom with Carlos Rodon would have been laughable two years ago.
But times have changed since then. Rodon has suddenly become an ace in his own right, dominating over the past two seasons. While he may not be in the same category as deGrom or Justin Verlander at this point, he is one of the best starters available in free agency, someone that would pair nicely with Max Scherzer atop the rotation.
Rodon followed his breakout 2021 campaign with an excellent performance last year. He posted a 2.88 ERA and a 1.028 WHiP over his 178 innings, striking out 237 batters with 52 walks. Although he spent just one season with the Giants, he certainly made it count.
It is possible that Rodon could be a bargain. He is likely to cost less than deGrom or Verlander in free agency, allowing the Mets to make other moves to shore up their pitching staff. Rodon will turn 30 next week as well, meaning that he is still in the midst of his prime. With that combination, Rodon could be the perfect fit in the rotation behind Scherzer. And the Mets are interested in bringing him in.
Carlos Rodon is not going to be Jacob deGrom. Nonetheless, he has the most upside of any of the top pitchers in free agency.