Race to Sign George Springer Down to Mets, Blue Jays

The New York Mets are trying to decide which free agent best fits their needs -- pitcher Trevor Bauer or outfielder George Springer. Mets owner Steve Cohen seems to prefer Springer over Bauer, but the Toronto Blue Jays are also determined to sign him. So we now have a two-team race between the Mets and Blue Jays for Springer.

Bauer and his agent are apparently not quite as special as they seem to think they are.

Per ESPN's Jeff Passan, no two teams are as interested in Springer as the Mets and Blue Jays. Springer, 31, is a three-time All-Star and was the 2017 World Series MVP as a member of the Houston Astros. He seems to save his best for when it means the most. He has compiled 19 homers and 38 RBIs in 63 playoff games.

Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins said the team still wants to add "another really good player" this offseason, and Springer fits that description.

"We'll see. It's really hard to acquire elite players," Atkins told MLB Network Radio last month. "This will be another opportunity for us to do it. We'll see what happens."

The Blue Jays finished 32-28 and in third place in the AL East in the shortened 2020 season. The Mets went 26-34 and at the bottom of the NL East.