After Shohei Ohtani agreed to a record-shattering $700 million deal with the Dodgers, the rest of the league (actually, Los Angeles, too, thanks to massive deferrals in Ohtani’s contract) is scrambling to snatch up the remaining pitching talent on the market.
Tuesday, Jim Bowden of The Athletic made predictions about where 17 other free agents will end up, based on conversations he’s had with decision-makers in the league.
In those predictions, he has the highly sought-after Yoshinobu Yamamoto going to the Yankees while the Mets land Blake Snell.
“Snell’s market has been quiet but most team executives believe that if Yamamoto declines the Mets’ offer, they will pivot to Snell,” Bowden writes.
Last week, SNY’s Andy Martino reported that Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns told multiple player agents at the Winter Meetings that “the team will pursue a frontline starting pitcher” if they miss out on Yamamoto. Martino reports that the Mets are saying in meetings that they would only go after the likes of Jordan Montgomery and Blake Snell if they didn’t get Yamamoto.
In 32 starts for the Padres this year, Snell posted a 2.25 ERA and 234 strikeouts.
Bridget Hyland may be reached at [email protected]
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