Shuffling players between teams continues. While you can consider Juan Soto to be the biggest move made by the New York Mets, several other factors tagged along with it. Amongst those, the Cleveland Guardians’ First Base, Josh Naylor, grabs a sweet spot. Rumors are buzzing around the town that he might be replacing Pete Alonso for the upcoming season. So, does that mean you won’t be seeing Pete in the Mets jersey anymore?
Well, probably! See, Alonso is now a free agent. And we all know what that means! He can have his options open and weigh between offers. This, again, lands a war between the Mets and Yankees. We can only predict who will win in the end! No matter which team signs whom, these discussions might be going on for a while now.
Is Josh Naylor a feasible option for the Mets?
What do you think? The New York Mets has recently committed to investing a whopping $765 million with Juan Soto. So, signing a less expensive player will definitely benefit the team in the long haul. There comes the $12 million rental Josh Naylor. Let’s look at the facts here. The 27-year-old hit a career-high 31 home runs this 2024 season. He has ended the season with a .776 OPS and 118 OPS+. His plate appearances also reached 9.2% – the peak of his career. Even though his 2023 season saw a better performance with .842 OPS and 130 OPS+, that actually shows the Mets of him being an even better version of himself.
But then again, another question strikes – why replace Pete Alonso? He is in absolutely good shape and form, and being a home-grown Mets First Base, the team is in a comfort zone with Alonso. However, the Mets have their expenses. And the team had already offered him an extension in the last season, offering a deal of $158 million. He, along with his agent Scott Boras, rejected that offer as they were hoping to sign a deal somewhere around $200 million, relishing the perks of free agency. But will this decision play in favor of Alonso?
Are there other available options than the New York Mets?
Well, let’s take a moment here. Considering the free agent scenario, Pete Alonso is undoubtedly one of the top-notch available players. The Mets owner Steve Cohen has clearly pointed out that “We hope that he stays. He just needs some time to go out and test his market and see what it is. Hopefully, we’ll get there.”
With the Yanks already signing First Base Cody Bellinger, Alonso is not left with a lot of options. Considering his 30s era is about to begin and him not being a great defender, the Red Sox and the Astros might be willing to bring in an infield assist. But if the negotiations go well, Mets and Alonso seem to be suitable for each other.
Where does that put Josh Naylor? According to MLB rumors, “With the Yankees in pursuit of an expensive trade for outfielder Cody Bellinger as well as a third baseman in free agency, they may need to save money at first base.” Evidently, Naylor has the choice of the New York Yankees. Other than that, the Mariners, Cubs, and Pirates are all reportedly in negotiation with Josh. While he will turn into a free agent after the 2025 season, he seems to be a viable one-year alternative for many teams out there. And if he can show his best performance in the upcoming season, his free agent market will surely experience the demand as expected.
The winter meetings are surely rushing our adrenaline to the heights and it is not settling down anytime soon. And this gives us a chance to keep the predictions rolling. Exciting, isn’t it? So, don’t forget to share your thoughts on whom the Mets are going to sign. Keep it coming!
The post MLB Rumors: New York Mets to Bid Goodbye to Pete Alonso for a Shocking $12M Rental? appeared first on EssentiallySports.
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