The Mets have already been one of the most active teams in MLB free agency this offseason, adding catcher James McCann and reliever Trevor May.
But they've also shown interested in some of the big fish still left on the market, particularly reigning NL Cy Young winner Trevor Bauer.
Speaking with SNY's Gary Apple on Wednesday night's Mets Hot Stove, Mets president Sandy Alderson spoke about why he believes Bauer's big personality would be perfect for the Big Apple.
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"I just think he has a personality and sometimes, look, professional wrestling was built around villains so entertainment has always been about good versus evil. And I'm not saying that Trevor is in either one of those categories, but he's different," Alderson said. "And I think that, generally speaking, people embrace those differences. They are conversation-creating and I think that in New York where we have a real variety of fans and attitudes, I think he would come across well."
The 29-year-old kept Mets ace Jacob deGrom away from his third straight Cy Young in 2020, as Bauer took home the hardware thanks to his incredible 1.73 ERA and 0.795 WHIP, striking out 100 hitters in 73.0 innings during his 11 starts.
The Mets have reportedly been in the mix to add Bauer, as are teams like the San Francisco Giants and Los Angeles Angels.
But Alderson explained on Wednesday that the market, especially for the elite players available, is moving slowly, as players have the luxury of waiting things out until the best offer arrives.
"There are different elements to the market, and I think the players who consider themselves at the top end are taking their time. And it's understandable," Alderson said. "You know, those players have spent -- I don't know -- 10, 12 years getting to free agency. They don't want to make a quick decision, necessarily. They don't have to you, based on their desirability. So you know that part of the free agent space is I think naturally moving slowly.
"From our standpoint, look, we want to be a better team but we also want to make sure that at the end of the day we're not just waiting for bargains or more efficient deals. We actually want to acquire players. So sometimes we're forced to make some choices, and we're more than prepared to do it as long as we keep certain amount of our powder dry for opportunities later."
