Mets Floated As Top Destination For One Of Best Pitchers In Baseball In Blockbuster

Could New York land the former Cy Young Award winner this offseason?

The New York Mets likely will make some moves this offseason and some interesting names are being floated as possibilities. 

New York has a lot of work to do after finishing the season with a disappointing 74-87 record. The Mets led all of baseball with an eye-popping payroll of over $343 million this season but were never able to get on track after winning 101 games in 2022. Although they struggled this year, there is reason for hope.

The Mets' farm system has been greatly improved after trading away Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander ahead of the 2023 Major League Baseball Trade Deadline and the club still has more money than anyone else. New York now has former Milwaukee Brewers executive David Stearns leading the club and he will be busy this offseason improving the club.

One player who has been listed as a possible trade candidate for the Mets this offseason is 2021 National League Cy Young Award winner Corbin Burnes, according to Bleacher Report's Zachary Rymer. 

"A trade for Burnes will only make sense for the Mets if they decide to pull a 180 and buy this winter," Rymer said. "If so, they could have a unique edge should they decide to push for Burnes. David Stearns was previously Milwaukee's president of baseball operations before taking the same post with the Mets.

"It was under him that the Brewers drafted and developed Burnes, who would fit nicely in the void in New York's rotation left by the Justin Verlander and Max Scherzer trades. Trade Proposal: New York Mets get (right-handed pitcher) Corbin Burnes; Milwaukee Brewers get (shortstop/second baseman) Ronny Mauricio and (outfielder) Ryan Clifford."

Burnes has spent his entire big-league career with the Brewers but that could change this offseason. He has been mentioned as a trade candidate consistently over the last year and the rumors have shown no signs of slowing down. He will be a free agent at the end of the 2024 season and very likely will not be returning to the Brewers. 

The 28-year-old finished the 2023 regular season with a 3.39 ERA across 32 starts and overall has a career 3.26 ERA in six big league seasons. He's the type of pitcher that could help New York in the short-term as well as the long-term. It's unclear if a move could actually happen, but it makes sense.