Los Angeles Angels’ Shohei Ohtani stands in the on-deck circle during the first inning in the first baseball game of a doubleheader against the Cincinnati Reds Wednesday, Aug. 23, 2023, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
With the World Series set and on the horizon, the Mets’ offseason and its David Stearns regime is in its fourth week in place.
The multitude of questions, vacancies, and uncertainties have yet to be addressed, but in the coming weeks — especially with the completion of the World Series between the Texas Rangers and Arizona Diamondbacks — things should start to take shape.
Here’s the latest.
Mets expected to be in the thick of the Shohei Ohtani sweepstakes
Former general manager Billy Eppler hinted near the trade deadline that the Mets wouldn’t be the big-money juggernaut that they were in recent winters this offseason. Even owner Steve Cohen alluded to that concept when putting things in motion on the Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander trades. But the allure of Shohei Ohtani could very well be too great to pass up.
ESPN’s Jeff Passan reported on ESPN that the Mets are expected to be “front and center,” for the free-agent superstar, who will only bat in 2024 after undergoing surgery to repair a torn UCL.
“They have the most money and the owner who is most willing to spend. They should be there,” Passan said. “The question is, does Ohtani want to deal with all that being in New York entails? Because it’s a completely different life than what he has with the Angels…
“The idea that the Mets aren’t going to be front and center is silly. He’s arguably the most talented baseball player of all time and Steve Cohen is in the business of gathering talented baseball players.”
Kodai Senga lobbying for Yoshinobu Yamamoto
Outside of Ohtani, Japanese star pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto could be the largest free agent available this offseason as he is expected to be posted by his team, the Orix Buffaloes…
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