MLB Rumors: Mets in Talks with Yankees FA Jonathan Loáisiga After Juan Soto Contract

After securing superstar free agent Juan Soto on Saturday night, the New York Mets are now talking to New York Yankees pitcher Jonathan Loáisiga, according to Joel Sherman of the New York Post.

"The righty fits two criteria that have value right now with the Mets — he has strong ties to Carlos Mendoza from their years together with the Yankees and is the kind of potential low-buy, high-ceiling bullpen arm that David Stearns gravitates toward," Sherman said.

Loáisiga underwent season-ending elbow surgery in April after appearing in just three games for the Yankees. He has a career 3.44 ERA, with 207 strikeouts, 84 earned runs, and a 2.9 K/BB ratio.

The 30-year-old specializes in heavy sinkers and induces a lot of ground balls, much like his former Yankees teammate-turned-Met counterpart Clay Holmes. Along with Holmes, Soto, and newly re-signed pitcher Frankie Montas, the Mets have become a Yankees 2.0 destination, with Harrison Bader, Adam Ottavino, Luis Severino and Luis Torrens all on the Mets' 2024 roster from the Yankees.

In addition to the Mets, Loáisiga is also drawing interest from the San Diego Padres, Texas Rangers and Blue Jays as well as the Yankees sources to ESPN.

His return from injury is expected to go well, as it is believed he will receive a big contract before the season to be a bullpen member.

"His electric stuff, headlined by a 98 mph sinker, makes him an attractive bullpen weapon for clubs expecting to contend," wrote ESPN's Jorge Castillo.