The New York Mets had no intention of spending big on a starting pitcher this winter, but the club's plans have changed since Matt Harvey went down with an elbow injury. Rather than pursue an affordable innings-eater for the back of the rotation, GM Sandy Alderson may go after a "more pricey pitcher" to help out at the front end, reports Adam Rubin of ESPN New York.
Mets rumors: New York may pursue ‘pricey pitcher’ this winter
GM Sandy Alderson has changed his offseason plans in the wake of Matt Harvey’s partial UCL tear.
Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
Rubin emphasizes that the “pricey” part Alderson mentioned concerns dollars, not years. Harvey is likely to miss just the 2014 season and several other young arms should be ready to step into the big-league rotation by the following season, so acquiring an expensive arm for multiple seasons is probably unnecessary.
There is still a chance that Harvey will not need Tommy John surgery -- a decision is expected in two weeks -- but, for the moment, the Mets' 2014 rotation consists of Jon Niese, Zack Wheeler, Dillon Gee and two big question marks. With Harvey, Jenrry Mejia and Jeremy Hefner on the sidelines indefinitely, the team may push prospects Rafael Montero and Jacob DeGrom into the rotation mix next spring, but that would still likely leave the club one card short of a full deck.
Alderson added that the club had little interest in trading away one of its young arms for a bat before Harvey went down, which means it even more unlikely to happen now.
More from SB Nation MLB:
See More:
