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The Mets managed to steal the headlines by g Juan Soto, one of the most sought-after free agents, for whom the Mets shelled out more than $700 million in a 15-year contract, but the Mets are clearly a competitive team and now on Steve Cohen's radar is pitcher Luis Castillo.
The Mets previously had an interest in the services of pitcher Nathan Eovaldi, but in recent days the Texas Rangers reached an agreement with the right-hander, so now the target is the 32-year-old Dominican.
But the Mets will not have an easy task to recruit Luis Castillo, as the Chicago Cubs, Boston Red Sox, and Baltimore Orioles are also in the battle for the pitcher.
Only details prevent Mets from claiming Castillo's services
One of the details to consider is Castillo's current contract with the Seattle Mariners, as the right-hander has yet to earn $73 million over the next three seasons, not counting the performance-based option for 2028 worth $25 million.
Castillo finished fifth in the voting for the 2023 American League Cy Young Award, posting a 3.34 ERA with 219 strikeouts and 56 walks in 197 innings, numbers that also earned him an All-Star Game appearance.
If Castillo decides to Juan Soto and the New York Mets, Cohen's team will have to consider parting with some of the prospects in its minor league s if it completes the trade with Seattle.
In addition to Luis Castillo, other names on the Mets wish list are Jack Flaherty, Walker Buehler and Nick Pivetta.
"First of all, I want to thank the Cohen family for making me part of the Mets organization. I'm excited to be here, to be part of this family," Juan Soto said in his first official message as a Mets player.