Mets shifting focus away from unlikely Shohei Ohtani, Juan Soto splashes

The Mets aren’t deeply involved in talks for either two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani or hitting star Juan Soto as things are starting to heat up with both megastars. They are instead focusing their greatest attention on top starting pitchers, beginning with Japanese ace Yoshinobu Yamamoto but also including several more free agent and trade targets.

If the Mets don’t consider themselves completely out on Ohtani — who won’t be able to pitch in 2024 and would cost the Mets more than he would cost anyone else due to the 110 percent so-called Steve Cohen tax that would more than double their Ohtani cost — at the very least they know this: They are not among the favorites at a time things seem to be percolating for the two-time MVP and international sensation.

The Mets’ focus remains pitching, and their top choice seems to be Yamamoto, who’s only 25 and is being pursued by virtually every big-market team, including the Yankees. Both the Mets and Yankees have high hopes for Yamamoto, and rival teams do see the Mets as having a good chance despite the keen competition.

Meanwhile, the Mets are investigating nearly every available frontline starter, including free agents Eduardo Rodriguez, Jordan Montgomery and Blake Snell, the National League Cy Young winner.

Shohei Ohtani has been pursued by many teams as the top free agent. Getty Images The Padres could trade Juan Soto this offseason. Getty Images

The Mets also looked into all proven starters available in trade, including White Sox ace Dylan Cease, who’d make more sense for the Mets than others since he’s contractually bound to his team for two more years.

However, Cease won’t be easy to acquire, as other teams have more prospect capital. The Mets also checked in on other trade targets, including Tyler Glasnow, Shane Bieber and Corbin Burnes, but those pitchers should be considered long shots for them since they are free agents after 2024.

For the same reason, Soto, who is being discussed in trades with at least nine teams, including the Yankees, isn’t really a great fit for the Mets, who are loading up for 2025 and beyond.

The Mets and Padres did have a conversation and the Mets wouldn’t mind adding a hitter, but they aren’t viewed as a great fit due to his status as a free agent after ’24, and also realistically, a shortage of young pitchers who could entice the Padres.