The second day of MLB GM meetings in Las Vegas revealed a harsh truth: the free agent market for starting pitchers is unbelievably thin, and teams like the Mets, Padres, and Cubs are flat-out desperate. We also got the annual masterclass in client hype from super agent Scott Boras, but the real takeaway was just how dire the rotation situation is for some major players heading into the offseason.
The Mets Are Rolling the Dice on Just Two Arms
The Mets are in a wild spot, needing to bulk up on pitching like crazy. David Stearns, their president of baseball operations, told everyone on Wednesday that only right-handers Nolan McClean and Christian Scott are locked in for next year’s rotation. That’s it! Two guys! Stearns said they aren’t looking for a “specific number” but “multiple” arms. He’s talking about creating a “complete staff” from “1 through 10, or 12,” meaning they’re going to dive into every part of the market, from top-tier free agents to trades, and even those quiet acquisitions that end up being huge by summer. Honestly, he expects some new rotation members won’t even be in the organization right now. You gotta be a little nervous if you are a Mets fan hearing that.
“Fastball Freddy” Set to Break the Bank in a Thin Market
Beyond Tarik Skubal, who’s definitely the top free-agent starter out there, the market is drier than a summer in Arizona. Who’s next up? Veteran right-hander Freddy Peralta. And get this: the dude looked like a Cy Young-caliber ace for the Rays in October, even snagging an ALCS MVP. But rewind a bit, and Peralta had some of the absolute worst performances of his career during an abbreviated stint with the Mets. Talk about a roller coaster! Now, the big question is whether contenders like these pitching-hungry clubs are actually going to pony up the nine-figure deal for Peralta that seemed totally impossible just last summer. How do you value a guy who flashes pure brilliance but has also had some serious duds recently? This is high stakes for any team that bites.
Cubs and Padres Are Starting From Scratch
It’s not just the Mets feeling the pinch. The Cubs are basically starting over, having lost all five starters who finished the 2026 season to free agency. We’re talking Kevin Gausman, Matthew Boyd, Shota Imanaga, Clay Holmes, and David Peterson. Gone! Cubs GM Carter Hawkins nailed it when he said, “You can never have too many” starters, adding that teams (including his own last year) think they have enough in “spring training,” only to realize they need more by mid-season. Cubs President Jed Hoyer is all about beefing up that rotation and improving the overall pitching quality with “savvy acquisitions” this winter, but it’s not clear if they’ll be big spenders at the very top of the market. And the Padres? They’re in almost the exact same boat, losing all but one starter to free agency.
These teams aren’t messing around, and with the pitching market looking like a desert, you know things are about to get wild. Who’s gonna pony up for Peralta, and how will these teams fill out their rotations? The next few weeks are gonna be a mad dash to see who blinks first and makes those game-changing moves for 2027.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Fox Sports.
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