Rick Porcello has already set the bar high for his new challenge with the Mets.
The 30-year-old signed a one-year, $10 million deal with the team this week.
The former American League Cy Young Award winner that grew up a fan of his new employer, said the Mets also offer him an opportunity to add to his trophy case in the form of another World Series ring on Tuesday.
"This is a team that's built to win and built to win now and most important to me, as a competitor, I want to be a part of that. I want to get back to the playoffs, and win another World Series," Porcello told WFAN. "I felt like (the Mets) was one of the best opportunities to do that."
Porcello isn't just going to be handed a starting job, though. Prior to signing on the dotted line, the Mets had already added potential starter Michael Wacha. With the addition of Porcello, the Mets now seemingly have six starting pitchers for five spots with Porcello and Wacha joining Jacob deGrom, Noah Syndergaard, Marcus Stroman, and Steven Matz.
Porcello said on Tuesday that the skilled throwers he's joining in the Mets dugout was something that attracted him to the team, not something that steered him away.
"One, (the Mets) have got a pretty strong culture of starting pitching here. Top to bottom, you've got guys that can really throw the ball and that's something I want to be a part of," Porcello said.
Porcello had a down year for the Red Sox in 2019, with a 5.52 ERA (4.76 FIP) and 1.39 WHIP in 174.1 IP. In 2018, Porcello had a 4.28 ERA (4.01 FIP, 3.87 xFIP) and 1.18 WHIP in 191.1 IP. He won his Cy Young in 2016 with the Red Sox.
The righty said he had the Mets on his shortlist of teams before even being contacted by them during free agency this offseason. According to a report, Porcello even turned down other more lucrative offers to join the Mets for the 2020 season.