The New York Mets lost Pete Alonso to the Baltimore Orioles in free agency last offseason, and their plan to replace him did not work.
Jared Young, Mark Vientos, Brett Baty, Eric Wagaman, Christopher Morel and Jorge Polanco all saw time at first base this year, and the Mets had just a .667 OPS from first base this year, ranking 28th in baseball. The Mets have other needs to address in free agency as well, but adding a first baseman is very important. Ty France is a free agent after a career year with the San Diego Padres and could be a solid fit.
France was an All-Star in 2022, but had been unable to match those numbers until this season. He posted an OPS below .700 in 2024 and 2025, but this year, he had a .865 OPS for the Padres. He hit a career-high 21 home runs and set himself up for a payday. He made 116 starts at first base, posting a plus-eight outs above average on the season.
France checks all of the boxes for the Mets. He plays good defense, hits for power and has played over 130 games in each of the last six seasons. He would be a massive upgrade from what they had this year, and even though he's not going to put up numbers like Alonso, he would be a great addition to the Mets.
France hit .295 this season, and even if his average drops a bit, he would still be a great player. France will be 32 soon, so the Mets may be unwilling to commit to a long deal. France has already noted that he wants to stay in San Diego, and if the Mets want to land him, they may have to outbid them.