Mets Urged to Sign Two-Time All-Star Veteran Pitcher

The New York Mets are urged to sign a veteran, two-time All-Star starting pitcher.

The New York Mets rotation could be better heading into the 2024 season. There were improvements to it during the offseason with the additions of Adrian Houser, Luis Severino, and Sean Manaea.

Any injury, however, could be a massive issue for the Mets. 

Kodai Senga will start the season on the IL, leading to a five-man rotation of Houser, Severino, Manaea, Tylor Megill, and Jose Quintana. 

There are options on the market, including Blake Snell and Jordan Montgomery, but New York hasn't been linked to either in recent weeks, making it highly unlikely that they land one of the two best remaining pitchers.

With cheaper options available, would they be interested in signing one?

Brandon Scott of Bleacher Report wrote his best fits for top available MLB free agents, linking the Mets to veteran pitcher Johnny Cueto.

Cueto is planning to pitch and hopes to sign with a team for the 2024 season.

He had a tough year in 2023, making just 13 starts and posting an ERA of 6.02. It was the worst season of his career, but he's had his struggles since 2015.

Outside of his 2016 All-Star selection, Cueto has put up many years with fewer than 70 innings pitched and an ERA above 4.50.

Scott writes that the 38-year-old Cueto could provide insurance for New York, adding this would be for when things "inevitably go awry for the Mets."

While Cueto was once one of the better pitchers in the game, signing him at this point in his career doesn't do much for New York.

With prospects who can put up similar or better numbers in their farm system, giving them innings if anything happens should be the plan.