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By Jon Vankin
Contributing Sports Writer
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The New York Mets put together perhaps the most stunning week of the offseason, adding free agent former Toronto Blue Jays infielder Bo Bichette on Tuesday, then trading for Milwaukee Brewers ace right-hander Freddy Peralta a day later. The Mets also completed a deal for Chicago White Sox All-Star outfielder Luis Robert to make themselves a genuine World Series contender.
But according to one expert, there remains one more move the Mets "must" make to complete their offseason: a free agent signing that would bring a new dimension of reliability to the team's pitching staff.
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With both Kodai Senga and Sean Manaea coming off injuries last season, the Mets still need a pitcher who can be counted on to show up and consume quality innings every five days, to support the rotation-topping combination of Peralta and Nolan McLean, the Mets No. 1 prospect, as ranked by MLB Pipeline.
"This is where a reunion with Chris Bassitt fits seamlessly into the Mets’ current reality. The veteran represents the opposite of volatility," wrote analyst Josh Davis of ClutchPoints on Thursday. "He offers innings, preparation, adaptability, and consistency. For a team that thinned its farm system to acquire Peralta, Bassitt functions as structural insurance."
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Bassitt made 31 starts for the Blue Jays last season, his fourth year in a row of at least 30 starts, going back to his single season with the Mets in 2022 when he started 30 games with a solid 3.42 ERA over 181 2/3 innings.
In the postseason, after sitting out the American League Division Series against the New York Yankees with a back injury, Bassitt took a place in the bullpen and proved invaluable for Toronto in the AL Championship Series and the World Series, allowing just one earned run over 8 2/3 innings.
Bassitt became a free agent after the World Series with his three-year, $63 million contract complete. Adding Bassitt could bring the Mets 2026 payroll past $400 million. The 36-year-old is estimated by Spotrac to qualify for a $15.6 million per year deal over two years. The Mets are already at a payroll of $385.7 million, per Spotrac.
But even with the addition of Bassitt at his estimated price, the Mets would still place behind the Los Angeles Dodgers, at $411 million.
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