Mets Free Agent Target in Agreement With NL West Contender

The New York Mets lost out on one of their top free-agent targets to the San Francisco Giants.

The San Francisco Giants have agreed to a three-year, $42 million contract with Jorge Soler, according to Jeff Passan of ESPN. The New York Mets had an interest in the right-handed sluggers' services and could've used what he brings offensively.

With Soler landing in the NL West, it adds to the already loaded division, which might very well be the best in baseball.

Soler has spent the last two seasons with the Miami Marlins and played with the Atlanta Braves for half of the 2021 season. He has familiarity with the NL East and that should've been another reason why the Mets got a deal done.

Instead, they head into Spring Training with a questionable lineup that has a massive need for a legitimate offensive player.

When healthy, the 31-year-old has proven to be someone who can hit 25-plus home runs in a season. His 2019 season was the best of his career, blasting 48 home runs. In 2023, he slashed .250/.341/.512 with 36 home runs. The strikeouts are a bit of a concern, striking out 141 times last season, but the 36 home runs certainly made up for it.

He was named an All-Star for the first time in his career last year.

New York has other options in free agency and will need to sign someone soon as Spring Training is essentially here. Of the top names, J.D. Martinez makes the most sense.

The Mets have shown interest in Martinez after he slashed .271/.321/.572 with 33 home runs last season.