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Starters Mets Should Be Targeting After Latest Injury Scare

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With Sean Manaea and others on the shelf, the Mets are once again in the market for starters.

With Sean Manaea sidelined with an oblique injury, the New York Mets need one or more starters, and these pitchers could be a perfect fit. Manager Carlos Mendoza told reporters Monday that left-hander Sean Manaea has a strained right oblique and could open the regular season on the injured list. Manaea is just the latest blow to a Mets rotation that already lost Frankie Montas to a high-grade lat strain.

Re-signing Manaea while adding Montas and closer-turned-starter Clay Holmes to the middle of New York’s revamped rotation was one solution. Still, many felt they needed one more arm to round out their rotation, but that feeling has become a necessity. With Paul Blackburn coming off spine surgery, Kodai Senga pitching just three games last season, and both Montas and Manaea sidelined, the Mets are one injury away from disaster.

Three Starters Mets Should Target Amid Rotation Concerns

The Mets have some starting pitching depth in Tylor Megill and Griffin Canning, plus minor league pitcher Brandon Sproat available in reserve. Even though these injuries seem relatively minor with Montas and Manaea both expected to return, it is a long season. After several trade rumors involving starters and the Mets, the time has come for them to add one.

Jose Quintana

Reuniting with Jose Quintana would be the most obvious option for David Stearns and company. Quintana spent the past two seasons with the Mets and has been vocal about wanting to stay in New York. The 36-year-old southpaw made 31 starts last season recording a 3.75 ERA, with a 1.250 WHIP and 135 strikeouts over 170 ⅓ innings. He was lights out down the stretch and in the postseason, giving up just three earned runs over his final six starts of the regular season. Despite not being the same strikeout artist that he once was, Quintana remains a reliable arm capable of eating innings. He reportedly declined a potential deal from the Pittsburgh Pirates but would likely agree to a one-year deal with the Mets.

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Dylan Cease

Trade rumors surrounding San Diego Padres ace Dylan Cease have died down in recent weeks, but the Mets were among the frontrunners. San Diego has been seeking major league talent in exchange for the star right-hander, who hits free agency this winter. Since Montas and Manaea will likely be back within the first two months of the season, trading for Cease now seems like a panic move for the Mets. The 29-year-old is coming off a stellar season, recording a 3.47 ERA over 33 starts, while striking out 224 batters over 189 ⅓ innings. Cease could solve plenty of problems, but unless a more serious injury occurs, the Mets would be better off waiting. It is worth noting that the Cy Young contender is owed $13.75 million this season.

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Kyle Gibson

Kyle Gibson is another intriguing veteran arm who is still without a home. MLB insider Jon Morosi recently said that Gibson could fit well at the back of the Mets rotation. Coming off a solid year, the St. Louis Cardinals declined their option for the 37-year-old right-hander making him a free agent. Gibson made 30 starts for St. Louis, tossing 169 ⅔ innings with a 4.24 ERA with 151 strikeouts. A walking quality start, Gibson sports a career 4.52 ERA and has made at least 29 starts nearly every year of his 12-year career. He was valued at $13 million earlier this winter but could be a strong one-year addition at a lower price.

The post Starters Mets Should Be Targeting After Latest Injury Scare appeared first on Last Word On Baseball.