It might not exactly be Gerrit Cole money, but the New York Mets could be willing to pony up a bunch of cash for Trevor Bauer.
The reigning National League Cy Young Award winner is without question the top remaining free agent across Major League Baseball, and he's been arguably the top prize of this offseason from wire to wire.
A few teams have emerged (and then disappeared) from the Bauer sweepstakes, but one of the most consistent suitors has been the Mets.
MLB Network's Jon Heyman reported Thursday there have been murmurs about the Mets' offer to Bauer.
According to Heyman, New York is believed to have offered a three- or four-year contract with opt-outs and less than the $36 million average annual value Cole received from the New York Yankees last offseason.
This deal makes plenty of sense for both sides. Bauer for a while suggested he would only play on short-term deals, but he's changed his tune on that this offseason. A three- or four-year contract with opt-outs would give him long-term security if he wants it, but also the chance to play on a shorter deal, as well.
This comes amid news that the Mets might be prioritizing center field over starting pitching and that longtime Boston Red Sox outfielder Jackie Bradley Jr. reportedly is on their radar.
With pitchers and catchers to report in mere weeks, it seems a resolution to the Bauer situation presumably should be coming soon.
