Mets Eyeing Polarizing Ex-Red Sox Outfielder To Pair With Juan Soto

The former Red Sox outfielder is one of the better players available in free agency

Aug 8, 2024; Denver, Colorado, USA; A New York Mets hat and glove in the dugout in the second inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images / Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images

The New York Mets already have made one huge move for the outfield this offseason.

The Mets swooped in and completed a historic deal with former New York Yankees star Juan Soto. Soto now will call the Mets home for the next 15 years -- unless he is traded or opts out. He landed a $765 million deal that could rise even higher.

It doesn't sound like the Mets are done adding to the outfield. New York has been active in free agency since adding Soto and one player they reportedly have some level of interest in is former Boston Red Sox polarizing outfielder Alex Verdugo, according to MassLive.com's Chris Cotillo.

"(Pittsburgh Pirates) are indeed hot after Alex Verdugo and are a team to watch there, as Robert Murray reported," Cotillo said. "Other teams like Mets, (Toronto Blue Jays) involved, too. Adding two other teams to this mix, with Pirates leading the pack: (Houston Astros) and (Los Angeles Angels) at least checked in like Toronto, and Mets did."

Verdugo -- like Soto -- spent the 2024 season with the Yankees. Boston traded him to New York after an up-and-down stretch with the Red Sox. He was the key piece brought back in the Mookie Betts trade with the Los Angeles Dodgers, but the two sides went in a different direction.

The 28-year-old was great defensively in 2024 with New York but didn't have his best season offensively. Could he and Soto reunite with the Yankees' cross-town rival?

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