If the Mets go the trade route, one starting pitcher who looked like an ideal target, especially if they failed to sign Skubal, was Tampa Bay Rays All-Star Drew Rasmussen<\/a>. The 31-year-old Rasmussen has become one of baseball\u2019s best pitchers over the last two years and was instrumental in helping the Rays get to the World Series.<\/p>\n With Rasmussen having a $20 million club option for 2027, and knowing the Rays’ history, it seemed like a target for a team like the Mets, who are desperate to bring aboard a veteran ace to pair with McLean.<\/p>\n Well, Tampa Bay has other ideas after their World Series defeat, and those don\u2019t involve trading Rasmussen, much to the dismay of the Mets and other teams who need starting pitching. <\/p>\n \u201c(It\u2019s) not a declarative this, that, whatever, but I can sit here very confidently and say that every intention right now is thinking about \u2018Ras\u2019 anchoring our rotation and how to make this team better going into next year,\u201d Rays President of Baseball Operations Erik Neander said (h\/t Marc Tompkin of the Tampa Bay Times<\/a>).<\/p>\n \u201cWe want to have \u2018Ras back. We\u2019re going into this offseason when you were that close to where we were; it\u2019s hard to think we\u2019ll be closer if \u2018Ras\u2019 isn\u2019t part of the team,\u201d Neander added.<\/p>\n Mets’ Drew Rasmussen trade dreams get a dose of reality<\/p>\n It\u2019s not surprising to see the Rays POBO make that declaration, especially with Tampa Bay\u2019s success in 2026 and Rasmussen\u2019s impact. Now, granted, as we mentioned earlier, you can\u2019t fault fans or outlets for speculating that Rasmussen could be a trade candidate since they exercised his $20 million option, making him a valuable trade chip.<\/p>\n The New York Mets will have to turn their attention elsewhere in the trade market, as Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Drew Rasmussen is seemingly not available. | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect<\/p>\n The Mets, who recently did business with the Rays ahead of the trade deadline for Freddy Peralta, have a healthy farm system and a couple of players on the major league roster that they could use in a hypothetical deal for Rasmussen.<\/p>\n That said, those dreams have quickly faded, and now Mets POBO David Stearns must consider other trade options<\/a> like Joe Ryan, who has ties to Derek Falvey, who is now in New York\u2019s front office, Logan Gilbert, George Kirby, or MacKenzie Gore. Among those names, Ryan has a resume that could compare to Rasmussen, with two straight All-Star appearances and a 3.79 career ERA.\u00a0<\/p>\n And Ryan would be a nice offseason addition and could easily pair with McLean at the top of New York\u2019s starting rotation. The Mets could still sign another mid-tier starter like Michael Soroka or Tyler Mahle, which would give them a complete rotation for next season.<\/p>\n Needless to say, we\u2019ll see what happens in the coming days and weeks as the trade market and free-agent frenzy should absolutely heat up with a looming lockout on the horizon.<\/p>\n Get Mets On SI straight to your inbox: sign up for our free newsletter here<\/a>.<\/a><\/p>\n![\"Tampa](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/01m6pnv0nqy8zycgqzt3.jpg\" "\\"Tampa")
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