December 30, 2024

With the Mets looking to add one more starting pitcher to complete their rotation for the 2025 season, here are two pitchers the Mets should consider as free agency wraps up.

1. Jack Flaherty

Flaherty is coming off a World Series win with the Dodgers. After spending the past three seasons with three different teams, he will seek a long-term contract. In 2024, the right-hander pitched 55.1 innings, posting a 3.58 ERA and 1.283 WHIP across 10 games. However, Flaherty has struggled in the postseason. In 9 games started, he holds a 2-5 record, a 5.36 ERA, a 1.426 WHIP, 9.4 hits per 9 innings, and a -9.3% championship win probability. Flaherty is projected to seek a contract ranging from 3 to 5 years, with an average annual value (AAV) between $21 million and $25 million.

2. Roki Sasaki

Roki Sasaki is an exciting 23-year-old prospect from Japan who will be posted for MLB teams to sign in January. Over four years in the NPB (Japanese League), Sasaki has posted a 2.02 ERA, a 30-15 record, a 0.883 WHIP, and 11.4 strikeouts per 9 innings. The young right-hander has a fastball that reaches up to 102 MPH, an 88.2 MPH average splitter, and an 83.6 MPH average slider. The signing of Sasaki presents a unique opportunity for a relatively low-cost acquisition. Since Sasaki is under 25, he will be signed to a minor league deal, and the Mets will use funds from their international player pool. The Mets currently have $6,261,600 available in that pool.

If the Mets signed 1 of these 2 players their 6 man rotation could look something like this:

1 - Kodai Senga

2 - Flaherty/Sasaki

3 - Sean Manaea

4 - Frankie Montas

5 - David Peterson

6 - Clay Holmes

A signing of Flaherty or Sasaki would fully complete the Mets rotation for 2025 as they look to chase a World Series.