Mets' Chris Bassitt open to signing extension before free agency

Coming off Tuesday's home doubleheader sweep of the rival Atlanta Braves, the first-place New York Mets sat at 18-8 on the young season. Despite that success, it's never too early to think about what could be to come later this year. 

Following the 2022 campaign, starting pitchers Carlos Carrasco and Taijuan Walker could both potentially become free agents, and it's been reported that ace Jacob deGrom will opt out of his current deal after the season regardless of his health. The two-time National League Cy Young Award winner still hasn't pitched since he was shut down at the end of spring training with a stress reaction in the scapula of his pitching shoulder.

The Mets landed veteran Chris Bassitt from the Oakland Athletics via a trade completed in March but later were unable to reach an agreement with him in order to avoid arbitration. Since that time, the 33-year-old has gone 3-2 with a 2.61 ERA and has also served as somewhat of a public outspoken figure in the rotation. 

Bassitt recently told Joel Sherman of the New York Post he'd be willing to put pen to paper on an extension with the Amazins before he hit free agency this fall.

"From my standpoint, I am very surprised at how much I like it here, to be honest," Bassitt remarked while explaining that the presences of general manager Billy Eppler, manager Buck Showalter and ace Max Scherzer are among the reasons he'd make the Big Apple more of a long-term home. 

Neither Bassitt nor Eppler would say if the sides have talked over such an extension, but Sherman reports that "a source said nothing has been explored yet." 

That's understandable, if only because so much remains unknown. For example, deGrom looked like the best overall pitcher in MLB last spring but ultimately missed the second half of the 2021 season with lingering elbow issues. Eppler shouldn't be in any rush to lock Bassitt down before the upcoming All-Star break unless the righty offers the Mets some type of hometown discount.