Big news out of Queens this week - Steve Cohen just moved one step closer to turning the area around Citi Field into something Mets fans have been waiting on for decades: a true destination. With plans for a casino, hotel, and other entertainment options inching forward, the barren landscape that’s long surrounded the ballpark might finally get the kind of transformation that makes you want to stick around long after the final out.
But while Cohen’s off-field bet is making headlines, the Mets could be cooking up a few gambles of their own on the baseball side. With free agency in full swing, there’s a chance for the front office to take some calculated risks - the kind that could pay off big if the pieces fall into place. Let’s take a closer look at one name that could fit that mold, especially on the mound.
Starting Pitcher: Lucas Giolito - Betting on a Bounce-Back
Lucas Giolito isn’t exactly a new name on the Mets’ radar. He was a realistic target heading into the 2024 offseason - the kind of pitcher who checked a lot of boxes for a team trying to rebuild its rotation without going all-in on top-tier arms.
Giolito’s career has always been a bit of a rollercoaster: stretches of dominance mixed with frustrating inconsistency. And after missing all of 2024 due to injury, he returned this past season with the Red Sox and quietly put together a solid campaign - 26 starts, a 3.41 ERA.
Not bad for a guy coming off Tommy John surgery.
Here’s where it gets interesting: the Mets just hired Justin Willard as their new pitching coach - and he’s coming over from Boston. That built-in familiarity could be a key factor.
Willard has already worked with Giolito, knows how he ticks, and can give David Stearns a real read on whether this is a pitcher worth investing in. That kind of insight is gold in free agency, especially when you’re talking about a player with both upside and risk.
And there is risk. Giolito ended the 2025 season with some elbow soreness - not what you want to hear from a guy fresh off Tommy John.
That’s a red flag, no way around it. The Mets already have Frankie Montas signed for another year, and given his own injury history, doubling down with another high-variance arm would be a bold move.
Still, there’s a case to be made. Giolito’s track record - when healthy - shows a pitcher capable of anchoring a rotation.
He’s not an ace, but he doesn’t have to be. What the Mets need is stability, and if they believe his 2025 form is sustainable, he could be a savvy addition.
Now, if the Mets wanted to skip the gamble and go bigger, there are names like Framber Valdez out there. But that’s not really a roll of the dice - that’s paying top dollar for a known commodity.
With Giolito, you’re hoping to catch lightning in a bottle. And sometimes, those are the moves that define an offseason.
The Mets have a lot of decisions to make this winter, and how they approach the rotation will say a lot about their risk tolerance. But if they’re looking for a high-upside play with some built-in familiarity, Giolito might just be the kind of bet worth placing.