Why the New York Mets are meeting with Carlos Rodon

With Jacob deGrom unsigned, and uncertainty in other areas of the rotation, the New York Mets are weighing all their options, like Carlos Rodon.

The Mets remain interested in re-signing deGrom. Team officials recently met with right-hander Justin Verlander and now with left-hander Carlos Rodon, as first reported by Joel Sherman of the New York Post.

Rodon, 30 in December, has been dominant the last two seasons. He posted a 2.37 ERA and 34.6 strikeout percentage with the Chicago White Sox in 2021, though his previous injury history limited his market to a short-term contract with the San Francisco Giants that allowed him to opt out after his first season. In his first season in San Francisco, he posted a 2.88 ERA and 33.4 strikeout percentage in 178 innings, and has put himself firmly in the conversation as one of the elite starting pitchers in baseball.

So what does it mean?

The Mets’ interest in free-agent starting pitchers comes as no surprise. In addition to deGrom, Taijuan Walker and Chris Bassitt are both free agents, meaning that Max Scherzer and Carlos Carrasco are the only pitchers from last season’s rotation under contract. Which explains their reported interest in other free agent starters such as Jameson Taillon, Kodai Senga and Andrew Heaney.

What does Mets Carlos Rodon interest mean for Jacob deGrom?

But their interest in the other elite starting pitchers does not mean that deGrom is leaving. Far from it. deGrom likes New York and the Mets like him and the two sides have remained in contact throughout free agency. But the organization has talked to Rodon and Verlander so 1) they have as much information at their disposal as possible and 2) are prepared to act accordingly in the event that deGrom does leave in free agency.

In an ideal world, the Mets would pair another elite starter with Scherzer. Perhaps that’s deGrom. Perhaps that’s Verlander or Rodon. Either way, the cost will be significant; both deGrom and Verlander are expected to command deals worth near Scherzer’s three-year, $130 million contract  while MLB Trade Rumors predicts Rodon to sign a five-year, $140 million contract.

The Mets will add one, perhaps two starting pitchers this offseason. Whether they add one of the elite starting pitchers remains to be seen, but team officials meeting with both Verlander and Rodon while maintaining interest in deGrom indicates that they are seriously exploring it.