"The Mets, for example, never even called on Matt Adams, who signed for $4 million to be the NL East-favorite Nationals’ backup first baseman to Ryan Zimmerman at a time when the Mets are at least contemplating needing a starter other than Dominic Smith. This is why the Mets have inquired on Adrian Gonzalez, who would cost his next signing team just the $545,000 minimum salary, with the Braves and Dodgers picking up the rest of his $21.5 million 2018 pact."