Mets Among 'Best Bets' To Land Two Star Pitchers This Offseason

It sounds like either of these stars could end up being an option for the Mets

What will the New York Mets do this offseason?

New York currently is heavily pursuing Orix Buffaloes ace Yoshinobu Yamamoto but has plenty of competition. The New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox, San Francisco Giants, and Los Angeles Dodgers are among the other clubs mentioned as possible fits on multiple occasions.

If the Mets miss out on Yamamoto this winter, it's expected that they will pursue some other top-end talent to help bolster the rotation. Two hurlers the club is considered among the "best bets" for are Blake Snell and Jordan Montgomery, according to ESPN's David Schoenfield.

"Best bets: (San Francisco Giants), (Los Angeles Dodgers), (Chicago Cubs), Mets, (Boston Red Sox), Los Angeles Angels, (New York Yankees), St. Louis Cardinals, and Texas Rangers," Schoenfield said. "Snell seems to have expressed a strong desire to pitch for his hometown Mariners this offseason, showing up at a Seahawks game to raise the 12th man flag before a game and also at a University of Washington football game. Alas, the Mariners are suddenly crying poor and I suspect the losers of the Yamamoto sweepstakes will turn to Snell as a backup option.

"As for Montgomery, Texas was the heavy favorite to re-sign him at the start of the offseason, but as his rumored price continues to escalate -- potentially into the area of $140 million -- there have been reports the Rangers have backed off, perhaps concerned about the status of their local TV contract with Diamond Sports Group. Montgomery offers a degree of durability compared with Snell -- three straight seasons of 30 starts -- but he doesn't have the same explosive strikeout stuff."

Either Snell or Montgomery would make sense for the Mets in free agency. Yamamoto is their top choice, but if they miss out on him Snell or Montgomery is a very worth second option. Either would help boost the rotation for years to come and immediately pencil in as the club's No. 1 or No. 2 starter. Don't be surprised if the Mets make a major splash very soon.