Top free agents Mets, Yankees can target in strong class to re-tool

The Yankees and Mets need help, and it’s another solid free-agent class, especially for pitchers. Of course two-way phenom Shohei Ohtani still tops the list, even if he can’t pitch for a while, but it’s a decent group overall, thanks to the arms. Here’s the top nine (not including players with opt-outs like Eduardo Rodriguez). 

1. Shohei Ohtani

We still envision a $500 million deal even after he tore the UCL in his pitching arm.

He is baseball’s best hitter in 2023, and though half his great game may need to wait a while, as one exec put it, “He’s still Shohei Ohtani.”

The Dodgers, Padres, Giants, Mariners, Cubs, Rangers, Mariners, Mets, Yankees and incumbent Angels are logical contenders. 

2. Cody Bellinger

It would have been hard to imagine he’d rise to the second spot after the Dodgers non-tendered him, but at 27 he becomes one of the younger former MVPs to hit free agency (along with Bryce Harper and Barry Bonds).

He probably needed a change of scenery and is back to past greatness.

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Matt Holliday, who’s instructed him, suggested he’d like to see him back with the Cubs, where coaching familiarity paid off.

The Yankees, where his dad Clay won two rings, are a natural fit. 

3. Yoshinobu Yamamoto

Scouts from 10 teams, including the Mets and Yankees, saw a recent scoreless gem.

Most big markets are in for this smallish right-hander, known for poise and athleticism, who is a two-time MVP, but not the Angels, who are concentrating on Ohtani.

Yamamoto is 25, and there’s no draft pick attached –— two pluses. 

4. Julio Urias

Though he isn’t having his usual season following a hamstring injury suffered in the WBC, he’s a big-time left-hander who showed he’s a big-game performer.

He’s also the first to hit free agency at 27 with multiple years with Cy Young votes since CC Sabathia.

A Dodgers return makes sense, especially with Tony Gonsolin and Dustin May out, and all-time great Clayton Kershaw also a free agent. 

5. Blake Snell

Lefty could win the Cy Young after being passed over for the All-Star team.

He leads the NL in ERA, is second to Spencer Strider in strikeouts and is on a streak of 18 starts allowing three runs or fewer. 

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6. Matt Chapman

The excellent all-around third baseman regained his offensive form (he’s third in hard-hit rate, behind Aaron Judge and Matt Olson), and should benefit from a relatively weak positional market.

Could the Mets be a fit with 3B unsettled following Brett Baty’s disappointing showing? 

7. Aaron Nola

He’s the most accomplished of all the pitchers and one of the most durable in the game, and realistically, Nos. 2-7 here could be any order.

Nola hasn’t missed a start in six years due to injury, has the most games started over the past three years and is fourth in WAR (to teammate Zack Wheeler plus Kevin Gausman and Corbin Burnes).

The Phillies are expected to try again for the pitcher, who’s one of eight in history with 1,175 innings in the first eight seasons with a WHIP of 1.127 or lower. 

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8. Josh Hader

Among pitchers with 30 innings since 1871, he’s the all-time leader in K/9 (15.13) and opponents BA (.152).

Baseball’s best closer should set a contract record for relievers.

Outstanding team guy was mourned and missed in the Milwaukee clubhouse after the trade that caused a lot of recriminations atop the Brewers hierarchy. 

9. Jordan Montgomery

He pitched better in St Louis than The Bronx (as he once pointed out), has the 12th best fWAR among pitchers and looks now like another Yankees mistake.

There’s no draft pick attached.