Mets blockbuster trade idea would land $75 million slugger to replace Pete Alonso

If the Pete Alonso era with the New York Mets really is coming to an end, the goal should be to replace him with another potential slugger.

Alonso, the four-time All-Star first baseman, has been seeking a contract in excess of $30 million per year, which is significantly more than the Mets have been willing to give them. If he does leave, the plan the Mets have in place is tenuous at best.

New York would theoretically shift Mark Vientos from third base to first base and allow youngsters Brett Baty, Luisangel Acuña, and Ronny Mauricio to jockey for infield playing time. But what if a more concrete solution could be found in a blockbuster trade?

An under-the-radar trade candidate for the Mets could be Baltimore Orioles first baseman Ryan Mountcastle. Stuck in a platoon with Ryan O'Hearn in Baltimore, Mountcastle has quietly put up a 114 OPS+ in five seasons in the big leagues.

On Wednesday, Newsweek's Drew VonScio pitched a hypothetical trade that would send Mountcastle to the Mets in exchange for right-handed pitcher José Buttó and pitching prospect Dom Hamel.

"With the free agent market for first baseman at a standstill waiting on Alonso, the trade market is the best direction for the Mets. Conveniently enough, the Baltimore Orioles also have too many first basemen and could use a deal to free up roster space," VonScio wrote.

"Mountcastle has two years left of team control for the Mets and would be 30 years old when he hits free agency. Even if he was paid $75 million as his market value shows, that would be about half of what they would pay Alonso."

It's fair to say Mountcastle has been victimized by his home ballpark, perhaps more so than any other hitter in the sport. The cavernous left field at Camden Yards has swallowed up numerous would-be home runs, which wouldn't happen at Citi Field.

Last season, Mountcastle slugged .425, but his expected slugging percentage (per Baseball Savant) was .445. The season before, his actual SLG was .452, but his xSLG was .503. He's also a solid defender at first base, with two outs above average in 2024. 

The $75 million figure VonScio sites is a Spotrac market value projection over a five-year contract, and frankly, Mountcastle hasn't yet earned that $15 million per year figure. But if he were to hit 30 home runs a season in Queens, the Mets would surely be happy to give it to him.

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