Rotation once again big priority for Mets at Winter Meetings

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NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Mets left last year’s winter meetings with two new starting pitchers and within weeks turned toward Japan for a third.

It’s a blueprint that could serve the organization well as it looks to restock a rotation that partly got liquidated at the last trade deadline.

Luis Severino is already in place on a one-year contract worth $13 million.

The higher-impact arms remain on the board.

Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who is expected to fetch upwards of $200 million to depart Japan, will travel to the U.S. within the next week to meet in person with teams — the Mets among them, according to a source.

So the Mets (who are contending with the Yankees, among others, for the stud Japanese right-hander) can focus elsewhere this week, with the winter meetings underway Monday at the Gaylord Opryland hotel.

Twelve months after the Mets departed San Diego with Justin Verlander and Jose Quintana before signing Kodai Senga, starting pitching is again a focal point.

A winter meetings primer:

Rotation

The 25-year-old Yamamoto, who was posted by the Orix Buffaloes in November, is coveted among teams searching for a potential ace.

Blake Snell also falls into the “ace” category, but would the Mets be willing to surrender a draft pick to sign last season’s NL Cy Young award winner?

A sensible left-handed option for the Mets could be Jordan Montgomery, whose stock rose last season with the Cardinals and Rangers.

Montgomery was ineligible for the qualifying offer and wouldn’t cost the team that signs him a draft pick.

The Mets have also been linked to Japanese left-hander Shota Imanaga, who is expected to be posted this week.

Imanaga is projected to get upwards of the five-year, $75 million contract Senga received last winter.

If the Mets add a Japanese pitcher, they will likely implement a six-man rotation to provide for extra rest.

It would leave the team in need of multiple starters behind Senga, Quintana and Severino (who has spent much of the last two seasons battling injuries), even if the Mets plan to let rotation depth such as Tylor Megill, Jose Butto and Joey Lucchesi battle in camp for a rotation spot.

Third base

Are the Mets willing to gamble that some combination of Brett Baty and Ronny Mauricio will suffice?

Joey Wendle was signed last week to a one-year contract worth $2 million, but the veteran infielder is likely to fill the Luis Guillorme role as a backup at multiple positions.

Justin Turner remains available as somebody who could provide right-handed pop and play all infield positions with DH as an option.

Willy Adames is entering his walk year with the Brewers — with whom new president of baseball operations David Stearns is extremely familiar after his tenure in the team’s front office — and might be available in a trade.

Baty was a disappointment last season, but is still only 24 years old.

Mauricio is a pure athlete who needs to find a position with shortstop blocked by Francisco Lindor. Mauricio’s chances to play third base have been limited.

Outfield

A dependable bat might be a necessity given the uncertainty surrounding Starling Marte, who missed the final two months of the season with groin discomfort.

Is Marte still a full-time outfielder?

A part-time DH?

A trade possibility?

The Mets still owe Marte $39 million over the next two seasons, but could swallow a chunk of that if it helps them obtain a desired player without surrendering too much from the minor league system.

Jorge Soler and Teoscar Hernandez are right-handed power bats on the market that could make sense.

Tommy Pham is also available after departing the Mets at the trade deadline and helping the Diamondbacks to the World Series.

Korean outfielder Jung Hoo Lee is expected to soon post and could be a fit for the Mets.

Bullpen

Imagine the Mets signing Josh Hader and pairing him with Edwin Diaz to give the team an absolutely electric back end of the bullpen.

But Hader rejected a qualifying offer and falls into the class of free agent that would cost the Mets a draft pick.

David Robertson is another name to watch.

The veteran reliever was solid filling in at closer last season with the Mets after Diaz tore the patellar tendon in his right knee during an on-field celebration at the World Baseball Classic.

The Mets, under former general manager Billy Eppler, seemed intrigued by the idea of bringing back Robertson this offseason — he was dealt to the Marlins at the trade deadline — but Stearns could have other ideas.

Aroldis Chapman, Matt Moore and Hector Neris are among the other intriguing names on the board.