Pete Alonso’s departure to Baltimore on a five-year, $155 million contract didn’t just strip the Mets of a franchise-level slugger — it also left them with a glaring vacancy at first base and thrust them into a suddenly thin market. After “checking in on Cody Bellinger,” as reported by the Boston Globe’s Tim Healey, the Mets have begun evaluating another potential answer: former MVP Paul Goldschmidt.
Goldschmidt may not replicate Alonso’s star power, but he still offers a level of reliability the Mets currently lack. Last season, he posted a .274 average with 10 homers and 45 RBI. While his power production declined, Statcast data shows there’s still meaningful impact behind the swing, highlighted by a 43.7 percent hard-hit rate and a 7.9 percent barrel rate — indicators that the underlying mechanics remain sound despite the dip in results.
His performance splits add more context. Against left-handed pitching, the 38-year-old delivered a .336 average and seven home runs, providing the type of steadiness that gives a club lineup flexibility instead of forcing a strict platoon setup.
Goldschmidt, who captured the MVP with the Cardinals in 2022, performed capably with the Yankees last season, but they have no plans to re-sign him. He served as a transitional piece, and “that’s the plan, and they’re sticking with it,” with Ben Rice expected to take over first base duties.
The Mets don’t share that comfort. Alonso is gone, and there’s no internal candidate ready to replace his typical 35–40 home runs or handle the daily load at first base. With their offseason direction shifting once again, Goldschmidt presents as a short-term answer who can stabilize the position and give the organization breathing room.
The broader first-base free-agent market isn’t offering much help. Options include Ryan O’Hearn, Nathaniel Lowe, Munetaka Murakami, Kazuma Okamoto, and Rhys Hoskins. The Mets must now fix their first-base puzzle out in the open — through signings or trades — with fewer straightforward choices available.
Goldschmidt may not be a multi-year solution, but he stands out as one of the few trustworthy players still on the board. And after losing Alonso, the Mets’ margin for error has tightened significantly.