The Mets failed, but not through a lack of effort.
They tried, through their actions and their money, to lure Yoshinobu Yamamoto to Queens.
Team owner Steve Cohen and president of baseball operations David Stearns flew to Japan before the winter meetings for an in-person sit-down with the pitcher and his family, getting a head start on the sweepstakes and adding a personal touch.
A second meeting transpired at Cohen’s Connecticut home last weekend, with a heavier presence of Mets personnel that included manager Carlos Mendoza and pitching coach Jeremy Hefner.
And when it came time to write a check, Cohen added the financial touch of a 12-year, $325 million contract, The Post’s Mike Puma reported, which would have beaten Gerrit Cole’s all-time record for largest contract ever awarded to a pitcher by $1 million.
And Yamamoto, indeed, took the parameters of that exact contract — but not from Cohen.
Instead, the Japanese superstar decided Thursday he will team with another Japanese superstar in Shohei Ohtani with the powerhouse Dodgers as the Mets’ pursuit ends with plenty of mileage but without a signature on the dotted line.
The bright side for Cohen’s Mets is they now can move on and proceed with their offseason knowing who is available and who is not.
It is more of a flicker than a true bright side, though, because Yamamoto was the one potential superstar starting pitcher who fit their desired timeline.
Ever since selling off at last season’s trade deadline, the Mets have prioritized the long term over the immediate.
Their goal is to be a sustained contender for many years and not solely for 2024, and thus they have not wanted to risk future flexibility.
Perhaps a large contract to a 30-something starting pitcher could become a financial anchor several seasons from now.
Yamamoto, at just 25, was different.
He could help the Mets now and in the future, they hoped, after winning three straight Sawamura awards — Japan’s version of the Cy Young — and coming to the majors with far less tread on his arm than a typical free-agent MLB pitcher.
The two top options remaining on the free-agent market are Jordan Montgomery, who turns 31 next week, and 31-year-old Blake Snell.
The Mets’ plan, as The Post’s Joel Sherman has reported, has not been to simply pivot to the next-best ace.
There is no other Yamamoto available, which likely means the Mets will seek additional starting pitchers on deals more akin to Luis Severino’s, having signed the former Yankee for one year and $13 million.
There is some upside (albeit limited) in such one- or two-year pacts, and downside is mitigated because the contracts expire quickly.
Yamamoto signing elsewhere is one more sign that the 2024 Mets will be far less sexy than the 2023 version.
They have not signed one player this offseason to a multiyear deal.
Barring the unexpected or a top-of-the-market price drop, Kodai Senga appears to be the ace of next year’s Mets in a rotation that will include Severino, Jose Quintana and likely Adrian Houser.
Adding one more starter likely would push Tylor Megill, Jose Butto and Joey Lucchesi to depth pieces.
Adding two could bump Houser to a swingman.
The Mets also could use further bullpen depth, perhaps a third baseman and maybe another outfielder, even after adding Tyrone Taylor in the Wednesday trade that also netted Houser.
The Mets will pivot to Plan B.
Plan A involved months of time, energy and money that culminated in disappointment.
Cohen has long had aspirations of turning the Mets into the East Coast Dodgers, but the West Coast version might as well be playing in a different league right now.
Source
