Mets’ Steve Cohen, David Stearns flew to Japan to meet Yoshinobu Yamamoto with price tag surging

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Steve Cohen has been proactive in his recruitment of the top starting pitcher on the free-agent market.

The Mets owner, accompanied by president of baseball operations David Stearns, flew to Japan last week to meet with Yoshinobu Yamamoto, ahead of the Japanese ace’s scheduled arrival in the U.S. within the next few days to meet with teams, Stearns said Wednesday at the winter meetings.

The Athletic first reported Cohen’s trip to Japan and The Post reported Stearns’ inclusion.

“It was a great meeting,” Stearns said, adding that he and Cohen met with Yamamoto’s family. “It was a long trip and a quick stay.”

The 25-year-old Yamamoto’s price tag could exceed $250 million, with estimates in recent days even suggesting he could bank $300 million.

The right-hander has won the Japanese equivalent of the Cy Young award the last three seasons pitching for the Orix Buffaloes.

Yamamoto is clearly the Mets’ top free-agent target this offseason in a pitching market that also includes National League Cy Young award winner Blake Snell. The Mets’ lone addition this winter to a rotation in need of arms has been Luis Severino, who arrived last week on a one-year contract worth $13 million.

Yamamoto, after traveling to the U.S. in the coming days, will meet with the Yankees on Monday, according to an industry source.

The Giants, Dodgers and Phillies are among the other teams to which Yamamoto has been linked.

A source indicated it remains fluid whether Yamamoto will meet with Mets officials again in New York before deciding on a team.

Stearns said he viewed the powwow with Yamamoto in Japan as more an informational session than a sales pitch.

“I try to look at it as providing information about who we are as an organization and what we want to do and become,” Stearns said. “This is a big decision for any free agent, where to sign, and they deserve to have all the information — they deserve to make the most informed decision and right decision for them and their family.

“That is the approach I take when I talk to any player about joining us is try to be as transparent as possible about who we are, why we think it’s the right opportunity for that particular person and answer those questions.”

The Mets looked to Japan last offseason, when Kodai Senga arrived on a five-year contract worth $75 million.

The right-hander may have exceeded expectations as a rookie by pitching to a 2.98 ERA with 202 strikeouts in 166 ¹/₃ innings.

Senga, according to Stearns, has made it clear to Mets officials that he would be supportive of having Yamamoto on his team.

“I think [Yamamoto] is potentially an elite front-end starter and he’s proven that at a high level and that is why there are a lot of teams in the industry who like him,” Stearns said.

Cohen has previously taken an active role in courting top players, most notably with Francisco Lindor after the All-Star shortstop arrived in a trade before the 2021 season. Lindor and Cohen later credited a dinner the two had during spring training for sealing the 10-year contract worth $341 million the shortstop received.

The 45-day window to sign Yamamoto following his posting closes Jan. 4, and Stearns said the Mets are willing to wait as long as it takes for an answer from the pitcher.

How much of the Mets’ offseason strategy revolves around Yamamoto?

“If we get him that probably leads us down one path in the offseason,” Stearns said. “If we don’t get him we’ll adjust and go down alternate paths.”