The New York Mets have been very aggressive in free agency in recent years, and they seem to find themselves involved in every conversation involving a marquee free agent.
They obviously don't win every sweepstakes, but they at least make an attempt. One of the most intriguing players on the market this offseason is Japanese slugger Teruaki Sato of the Hanshin Tigers in Nippon Professional Baseball. Sato won the Triple Crown last season and is in line to win his second consecutive Central League MVP Award.
The third baseman could help any team, despite some concerns about his strikeout rate. However, the Mets are reportedly cooling on him for a different reason.
"With third baseman Bo Bichette choosing to return, the New York Mets are less inclined to aggressively pursue Teruaki Sato, a free-agent slugger from Japan, league sources said," wrote The Athletic's Will Sammon. "The sources spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak freely."
Bichette opted in for $42 million for next season and primarily played third base last season. The Mets could move him to second base if they can move on from Marcus Semien. That would certainly open the door for Sato at third base.
Teams also have concerns about whether Sato's best position in the big leagues is third base. However, the Mets may rather focus on pitching.
"Bichette’s return means the Mets are largely focused on their starting pitching staff for major free-agent acquisitions," wrote The Athletic. "The expectation is for the Mets to be 'active everywhere' — from the top of the market (Tarik Skubal) through a labyrinth of similar mid-rotation options to depth options. The Mets should also be active in the trade market for starters, though that might not move as swiftly as the free-agent market.