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In their attempt to build a championship-caliber rotation, the Mets are awaiting a response from Trevor Bauer.
Mets’ interest in last year’s National League Cy Young award winner is substantial – Bauer received an offer from the team “a few weeks ago,” according to a pitching market source from free agent?
Bauer is the last of three big free agents remaining this winter, after JT Realmuto returned to the Phillies on Tuesday with a five-year contract worth $ 115.5 million. Last week, George Springer signed a six-year, $ 150 million contract with the Blue Jays.
A report on Tuesday that Bauer received a record offer from the Mets, in terms of annual average value, was debunked. But it is highly likely that Bauer received an offer that will pay him north of $ 30 million for at least four years, with opt-out options built into the contract.
Gerrit Cole was awarded a $ 324 million contract from the Yankees before last season with a record AAV of $ 36 million. Stephen Strasburg is next among the pitchers with his contract with a $ 35 million AAV. Bauer and Cole were teammates at UCLA, where they developed a rivalry, but had frosty interactions, according to a person with knowledge of their relationship.
Bauer has also been linked with the Blue Jays, Angels and Dodgers. There is a belief within the industry that if the offerings are comparable, Bauer will choose the Mets because of his desire to play in the largest market possible, with the goal of building a brand and reputation that transcends baseball. .
If the Mets were to sign Bauer, 30, their rotation would be among the best in the game. As it stands, Jacob deGrom, Carlos Carrasco and Marcus Stroman are all set for the rotation, with lefties David Peterson, Joey Lucchesi and Steven Matz among the background possibilities. Another spin option is Seth Lugo, who is perhaps better suited for the bullpen. Noah Syndergaard could be an addition in June, as he loses interest in Tommy John’s surgery.
Whether Bauer’s personality matches the Mets is another matter, especially after GM Jared Porter was fired last week for sending unwanted and inappropriate text messages to a reporter in 2016 while working for the Cubs.
Bauer 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 timeline of her drinking before her 21st birthday, subjecting her to ridicule by her 414,000 followers. Over a three-day span, Bauer tweeted the woman or others 17 times while discussing her and their disagreement. Bauer also intimidated a journalist on Twitter, eliciting negative reactions towards the woman from her supporters.
“I have been informed that some of the interactions related to a specific Twitter exchange may have had a negative impact,” Bauer said in a recent statement. “That was not my intention. I will exercise responsibility for my public platform more responsibly in the future.”
Bauer dethroned two-time NL award winner Cy Young from DeGrom last season, placing 5-4 with a 1.73 ERA in 11 starts for the Reds. He previously pitched for Cleveland, pitching in a rotation that included Corey Kluber and Carrasco.
If the Mets signed Bauer without deducting payroll, they would exceed the luxury tax threshold of $ 210 million. The Mets, who have been among the most active teams in baseball this winter, still have a vacancy in centerfield to fill and may look to free agent Jackie Bradley Jr.
In addition to acquiring Carrasco and Francisco Lindor in a trade with Cleveland, the Mets signed Trevor May and James McCann, after Stroman accepted a qualifying offer worth $ 18.9 million.
– Additional reporting by Joel Sherman
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