* PREDICTION *
The New York Mets have had an interesting offseason so far.
The team acquired three-time All-Star infielder Marcus Semien from the Texas Rangers in November in exchange for veteran outfielder Brandon Nimmo. Unfortunately for the Mets, they lost two impact players, Edwin Diaz and Pete Alonso, to the Los Angeles Dodgers and Baltimore Orioles, respectively, in free agency during this year’s Winter Meetings.
The Mets had sky-high expectations heading into the 2025 season following an NLCS appearance the year before and signing Juan Soto to a massive 15-year, $765 million contract. The team finished second in the NL East with an 83-79 record, missing the playoffs.
The Mets have a roster capable of competing for a World Series, even without Diaz and Alonso. However, the organization must find ways to fill the void left by the two superstars and prevent another disappointing season.
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Mets to Replace Pete Alonso with Yandy Díaz
Alonso had an incredible seven-year run with the Mets, being named the 2019 NL Rookie of the Year and selected to five All-Star Games. His 264 career home runs are the most in franchise history and will be hard for the team to replace.
There are impactful first base options available in free agency, but nothing close to the level of production that Alonso offers. The Mets could look to the trade market and should call the Tampa Bay Rays about Yandy Díaz.
The Mets Should Trade for Yandy Díaz
The Mets need to make a splash. Mets fans will be calling for owner Steve Cohen’s head if the team doesn’t bring in an impact player after losing Diaz and Alonso.
With the way things are going right now, there seems to be zero point in watching this team or buying a single ticket next season.
Steve Cohen, this is an awful look. This fanbase showed up last season and now this feels like straight betrayal.
— MetsMuse (@MetsMuse) December 10, 2025
Nobody is going to fill Alonso’s shoes at first base for the Mets. That doesn’t mean the team should be comfortable running Jeff McNeil, who’s expected to be traded, and Mark Vientos out at first base every day.
The Rays could look to trade Díaz with the emergence of Jonathan Aranda at first base. Aranda hit .316 with 14 home runs in 2025, earning All-Star honors. The 27-year-old appeared in 93 games, including 86 starts, at first base with the Rays in 2025 and is the better option defensively.
Díaz made just 36 starts at first base in 2025 and was instead primarily used in the DH role. Although he had an incredible season, in which he hit .300 with a career-high 25 home runs and 83 RBIs, Díaz has become expendable.
The Rays are a fringe playoff team and play in a tough AL East that features the AL champion Toronto Blue Jays. The Rays may want to hold on to Díaz in their lineup rather than trade him, but if the return is too good to pass up, they shouldn’t hesitate to pull the trigger.
Díaz is a contact-heavy hitter, but he offers some pop in his bat as seen in 2025. The 34-year-old is a career .290 hitter and won the AL batting title in 2023 with a .330 average.
It shouldn’t require a massive haul to acquire Díaz, given his age and contract status. He’s under contract on a $12 million club option for 2026, and the Rays added a vesting option to his deal for the 2027 season.
The Mets are trying to return to the playoffs and compete for a World Series championship. Díaz may not be an everyday first baseman to replace Alonso, but he would be a great addition to the Mets’ lineup and help the team win now.
Yandy Díaz Career Stats
Díaz started his major league career in 2017 with Cleveland before the Rays acquired him in a three-team trade following the 2018 season. He was an All-Star, Silver Slugger, and finished sixth in AL MVP voting in 2023.
Díaz is a career .290 hitter with 184 doubles, 100 home runs, and 424 RBIs. He slashed .300/.366/.482 with an .848 OPS, 29 doubles, one triple, 25 home runs, and 83 RBIs in 150 games in 2025.
He’s not known for his power, but Díaz hits for average and gets on base. He’s appeared in 26 career playoff games but owns a sub-par .176 batting average in 85 at-bats.