Though exciting times lie ahead for the New York Mets, they definitely aren't championship-ready yet.
All one has to do is look at the roster the Mets brought to the National League Championship Series compared to the one they have now. Sure, Juan Soto is a generational talent, but even he can't make up for the potential loss of a club's top three starting pitchers.
In fairness, Sean Manaea might still be back, and the Mets are hoping for a full season out of Kodai Senga at the top of their rotation. But after the risky additions of Frankie Montas and Clay Holmes, the Mets could use more of a sure thing to help stabilize the pitching staff.
If nothing suits their needs in free agency, the Mets could turn to the trade market to find an ace. And one team that has already shown it's willing to sell off its pieces this winter, surprisingly enough, is the Houston Astros, who traded away star right fielder Kyle Tucker last week.
Recently, Drew Koch of FanSided named the Mets as one of the best potential trade suitors for Astros two-time All-Star Framber Valdez, who is entering his final year of team control with a projected arbitration salary of $18.8 million (Spotrac).
"Steve Cohen will spare no expense in his efforts to win a World Series championship. After signing Juan Soto, the New York Mets lineup looks rather formidable. But in order to win in October, you need quality pitching," Koch said.
"No offense, but inking Frankie Montas to an over-market deal and adding reliever Clay Holmes (who they hope to turn into a starter) isn't going to scare anyone. If the Mets want to be taken seriously, upgrading the rotation is must."
Valdez, 31, has finished top-10 in Cy Young voting in each of the last three seasons, including a fifth-place finish in 2023. This season, he put up a 2.91 ERA over 28 starts, with a 3.25 FIP and 136 ERA+.
While the Mets might not be inclined to extend Valdez well into his 30s, having him around as the anchor of an iffy staff could pay huge dividends in 2025. Every season for the Mets is a potential championship run at this point, so they might as well push their chips to the center.
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