The New York Mets have missed out on another top starter free agent after Ranger Suarez made his decision to sign with the Boston Red Sox. It is the first signing for the Red Sox this offseason, and it’s a big one, as Suarez lands a five-year deal worth $130 million, according to ESPN’s Jeff Passan.
The Mets continue to be linked to the top starter options this winter, but have missed out on several of them. However, this is still semi-good news for Mets fans because Suarez had been in the National League East for seven seasons with the Phillies and tormented New York on many occasions. Besides avoiding arbitration with starter David Peterson, New York has not committed any money to starters yet. This is a bit puzzling, as it’s considered a top need for the club, but there are still five weeks remaining until Spring Training begins.
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Red Sox Outbid Mets, Land Ranger Suarez on $130 Million Deal
The reports on how close the Mets actually were to signing Ranger Suarez have not been released yet, but the assumption is that the Red Sox outbid New York for the star southpaw.
Another reason this is good news for the Mets is that Ranger is now out of the NL completely, as he had been linked to other NL clubs like the Phillies (his former team), the Atlanta Braves, the Chicago Cubs, and San Francisco Giants. The only bigger starter pitcher still on the market is Framber Valdez, whose value should exceed a $26 million AAV contract like the one Suarez just landed.
Getty(Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
So, while the Mets ultimately miss out on Ranger Suarez, they must stay aggressive in reports for the remainder of the offseason, and they can still land a lower-cost, but still really productive arm like Chris Bassitt, Zac Gallen, or Zack Littell.
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Will Ranger Suarez Be Good with the Red Sox?
Ranger Suárez’s output is predicated on two things: keeping the ball inside the yard on the ground and by not issuing free passes.
Fenway Park is a great hitter park for right-handed hitters, which may pose a benefit for some who come into Boston and get to face Ranger. He’s 30-years-old, and seemingly in his prime, but will he still be the same pitcher in three-four years? Only time will tell, but he’s also known to be a starter that can’t go deep into games, which may end up hurting the Red Sox bullpen.
All things considered, the Mets shouldn’t be too upset that they missed out on Ranger Suarez, as the contract could be considered an overpay, and the Mets have several young arms that are almost fully-developed.
While Mets fans may be growing impatient with no starting pitcher signed yet, it’s important to be patient and understand there are still a lot of strong arms on the market.
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