Insider Says Mets' Owner Extending Japanese Phenom 'Very Serious Offer'

The New York Mets could officially make their first offer to the Japanese starting pitcher phenom this offseason and it's expected to be a massive one.

When David Stearns took over the president of baseball operations role with the New York Mets this offseason, there was some differing thoughts about which direction the franchise might go.

They could operate as a massive spender with Shohei Ohtani and other stars available this offseason, or they could sit back and try to rebuild this team using Stearns' extensive experience from his time in a small-market organization.

So far, it seems like the Mets are doing the latter.

However, the one player they seem extremely keen on spending for is the Japanese pitching phenom, Yoshinobu Yamamoto.

Owner Steve Cohen has met with the potential superstar twice already and seems like this is the sole player he would be interested in spending major money to acquire.

And according to Andy Martino of SNY, "Steve Cohen is in the process of making a very serious offer."

This comes on the heels that New York's divisional rival, Philadelphia Phillies, have already made an offer to the phenom this offseason.

If the Phillies are able to land Yamamoto and leave the Mets with nothing, that would be a disaster. It's one thing to lose out to the New York Yankees and Los Angeles Dodgers if they are offering monster contracts as well, but having to face their primary target in their division for the foreseeable future would be crushing.

Of course, all this could be put to bed if Cohen blows the other offers out of the water.

He has that capability.

Time will tell what that "very serious offer" entails as they have seemingly circled the free agent they most want and are trying to do everything possible to land him.