The Mets are reportedly in a heated bidding war for ace Framber Valdez. One insider believes it's down to New York or Baltimore for the Boras client.
The MLB free agency carousel continues to spin with big names such as Kyle Tucker and Bo Bichette stealing the headlines for the time being.
The New York Mets are desperate to add talent after seeing Pete Alonso and Edwin Diaz depart in free agency, and patience might be running thin in Queens.
Now, the Mets have sent on offer to prized free agent outfielder Kyle Tucker, but there are still plenty of areas they need to address this offseason, and one of them is adding a veteran starting pitcher.
As the free agency train churns along, Steve Phillips of MLB Network mentioned the Mets and Baltimore Orioles as the two teams he thinks the Valdez sweepstakes is coming down to.
"For Framber Valdez, also represented by Scott Boras, I still that you're going to get five years for Framber Valdez," Phillips said. "He's a workhose on the mound. I think it's down between the Orioles and the Mets."
"Framber's one of the most predictable pitchers, in fact, I would've taken Framber Valdez No. 1 over Dylan Cease and over Ranger Suarez."
"The question for the Mets is are they willing to go beyond David Stearns' comfort level for three years?"
The Orioles have been constantly linked to Valdez in free agency, and with the Red Sox signing Ranger Suarez, Valdez is arguably the best pitcher remaining on the market.
Tim Kelly of Bleacher Report recently predicted that the Mets would sign Valdez, but the Mets are also in talks for Kyle Tucker, so that might be the domino they are waiting for in order to make a potential deal with Valdez.
Valdez turned 32 years old in November, but as Phillips mentioned, he transitioned in the minor leagues from an outfielder to a pitcher, so there aren't as many innings on his arms compared to others.
The rest of the pitching free agent market is nowhere near the caliber of Valdez, so the mets might have no choice but to throw out an offer in an all-out effort to land a quality pitcher.
Of course, there are still trade options, and San Diego Padres pitcher Nick Pivetta has been a named linked to the Mets time and time again.
With February around the corner, expect a decision from Valdez to come soon, and if the Mets do land him, it would be a massive win in what has been a disappointing free agency spree so far.