Don’t count out the Mets just yet on pending free agent Shohei Ohtani.

Despite the expectation that the Mets are focusing on building a contender a few years down the line and not necessarily next season, MLB insider Ken Rosenthal said on “Foul Territory” that he expected them to be in the mix for Ohtani’s services. 

“I do not rule out the Mets. I cannot see Steve Cohen simply passing on Shohei Ohtani,” Rosenthal said on the show. 

Ohtani is set to become a free agent this winter, with the baseball superstar expected to fetch a record-setting contract with whatever team he signs with.

The Mets weren’t necessarily expected to go after any big free agents this offseason after they sold numerous big contracts at the trade deadline and were planning a new path forward for the organization. 

However, the lure of Ohtani could serve as too good of an opportunity to pass up for Cohen, who has not been shy about spending money in the hopes of improving his ballclub. 

Rosenthal said it could come down to the Mets and the powerhouse Dodgers.

“I still think it comes down to LA versus New York. The Dodgers versus the Mets,” Rosenthal said. “The Yankees, I don’t see them doing this. They got already two $35 million-plus players. They can do it of course, but at the same time as I’ve said before, every contender, every wanna-be contender, should be in the mix for Shohei Ohtani.”

The baseball insider also mentioned the Giants, Rangers and Mariners as “at least possibilities” to land Ohtani. 

The two-way star was shut down for the rest of the season earlier this month due to an oblique injury. 

Ohtani also recently underwent elbow surgery and will not pitch until at least 2025.

Even with injuries cutting his season with the Angels short, Ohtani is still in the running for American League MVP after hitting .304 with a 1.066 OPS after crushing 44 home runs with 95 RBIs.

On the mound, he had a 3.14 ERA in 23 starts.