After just missing out on winning a World Series, the New York Mets are looking for ways to get back into the mix next season which will require a lot of work this winter in free agency. The team has a few players set to hit free agency while trade temptations get dangled in front of their face. First the team must see what the state of their current roster if before making any moves.
The Mets are setting their attention to players like Daniel Murphy and Yoenis Cespedes who have the chance to become free agents and depart the team. According to Adam Rubin of ESPN.com, Murphy is expected to decline the one-year, $15.8 million qualifying offer and hit the open market. Murphy is looking to cash in on his big season and the Mets are not going to win him over with a one-year deal. Instead, the infielder will hit the market and explore his options. That does not mean New York is out of the mix for Murphy. It just means they will need to open their check books up to bring him back.
"That's obviously a big factor -- whether he's back or not -- because financially and roster-wise he's a big part of who we were and what we need moving forward," assistant general manager John Ricco said, via ESPN.com. "We have to see what happens there. That will guide us in the short term, at least, in one direction or another."
Murphy will get a lot of attention. According to Wallace Matthews of ESPN, the Yankees will show interest along with other high-paying teams. Yankees' general manager Brian Cashman made it clear that he has no interest in overpaying for Murphy just like he will not overpay for Cespedes. The Mets could take the same approach with both players, but that would leave major holes in the roster. The Mets are at risk of losing both Murphy and Cespedes which might make trades more appealing.
The Mets came close to pulling off a deal for Andrelton Simmons. The Atlanta Journal Constitution is reporting the shortstop has been traded to the Los Angeles Angels, but the Mets were showing interest on Thursday. According to Jonah Keri of ESPN.com, the Braves are listening to trade offers on Andrelton Simmons as the short stop market remains weak heading into free agency. Joel Sherman of the New York Post followed up that report by saying the New York Mets called about a price tag. However, after deeming Simmons to expensive, the team is expected to pass. Sherman writes that in order to acquire Simmons, the Mets would likely have to give up one of their core pitchers in Matt Harvey, Jacob deGrom or Noah Snydergaard. That is not an option for the team right now as they hope to make deals for players without sacrificing a top pitcher. Rubin reports the interest in Simmons is to offset the departures of players like Cespedes and Murphy. Now the team will have to look elsewhere to replace the playmakers.
