Mets linked to new former All-Star pitcher in free agency

Having already missed on Tier A guys like Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Tier B guys like Seth Lugo, the New York Mets could now be trying for a Tier C guy.

Mike Puma of the New York Post reported this week that the Mets are showing “strong interest” in right-hander Lucas Giolito. The 29-year-old former All-Star righty remains a free agent as the calendar is about to flip to the new year.

Giolito might give the Mets some good bang for their buck since he had an absolute calamity of a 2023 season. In 33 total starts for the Chicago White Sox, Los Angeles Angels, and Cleveland Guardians, Giolito was 8-15 with a 4.88 ERA. He got shelled in the second half of the year especially, posting a hideous 6.46 ERA from July onward and finishing the season with an AL-leading 41 home runs allowed.

Still, Giolito has strong swing-and-miss stuff (producing the third 200-plus-strikeout season of his career in 2023) and can eat innings with the best of them. The Mets, who want to avoid overpaying for free agents after having to fork over $101M in luxury tax for their sub-.500 finish last season, already made one fringe upgrade to their rotation via trade. Giolito may be another candidate that fits their budget as well.