Chris McMonigle’s remaining off-season plan for the Mets is simple: re-sign Pete Alonso, and go get an ace starting pitcher.
“Go make the move. Go get a starting pitcher, bring in Pete Alonso, and be right there with the Los Angeles Dodgers instead of just being happy with some of the minor moves and being hopefully the same team we were last year,” C-Mac said to open Monday’s midnight ride. “Why is the richest owner in baseball getting a pass for not spending more money? It might be pricey, but you have the money, and the prospects to go trade for a pitcher.”
It just so happens that the Padres have a couple of pretty good rental starters in Dylan Cease and Michael King, and rumor is they’re being shopped because San Diego needs to shed payroll.
“There are times where you're forced to do things as a team in this city with these expectations, with the payroll and a rabid fan base,” C-Mac said. “So when I hear Dylan Cease is available, you bet your ass the Mets should be all over it. When I hear Michael King is available, you bet your ass the Mets should be all over it. And you do that as well as make sure Pete Alonso is in the building, and that seems more and more likely every single day. And to me, it should be, get it done.”
Cease has a longer track record of success, but he’s going to cost about $5 million more than King – his $13.75 million salary easily tops King, who wants $8.8 million in arbitration while the Padres filed at $7.325mm – who himself made 30 starts, had a good year, and already knows he can pitch in New York.
So what could, or should, the Mets do?
“It depends on if you're willing to trade top prospects for a starting pitcher who might be 30 next year when it's come time to sign him long term, but the difference between King and Cease is Cease has proven it and been around longer, and might get a seven or eight-year contract, while King might be a little cheaper in free agency,” C-Mac said. “Will they be willing to trade prospects for guys they don't want to sign, or will they be willing to move on from this hard and fast rule of not paying starting pitching and recognize that there are certain situations like the right guy at 30 years old, or a guy you’re already invested in because you gave up some of top prospects for him?”
Whatever they do, Chris had one clear message: the Mets got Juan Soto, and that’s great, but they DO have to compete with the Dodgers in the NL (unlike the Yankees), so it’s time for Steve Cohen to step up and show why the Mets should be big brother and make another legitimate run at a World Series.
“We've been talking about whether or not he should sign Pete Alonso, or at what level should he be willing to pay, and does he really want him – but as we wait for the other Alonso shoe to drop, this team needs him in the lineup, and it needs better starting pitching,” Chris said. “If the Padres are shopping King and Cease, we’ve talked about this idea the Mets are willing to spend for the big bats, but they're not willing to spend in free agency for starting pitching, but this owner promised a championship, They signed Juan Soto to that ridiculous contract, but the fact of the matter is, right now and in the near future, we understand that the Dodgers are the new evil empire, but it doesn’t mean they can't be beat, and it doesn't mean that the Mets shouldn't compete with them.”