The New York Mets let Pete Alonso walk in free agency last offseason, and that move proved to be a huge mistake.
Alonso had a great year, and the Mets never found a steady option at first base. President of baseball operations David Stearns spoke on the need to improve at first base after the season ended.
"I give Pete an enormous amount of credit. He went out and had a great year,” Stearns said. “Our entire season our first base production wasn’t nearly good enough. Now it’s my job to put a group together that plays better.”
The Mets could look at free agents, and Jake Bauers of the Milwaukee Brewers and Ty France of the San Diego Padres are certainly options. However, if they both re-sign with their current teams, trading for a first baseman could be an option.
Andrew Vaughn could be on the move if the Brewers re-sign Bauers. The Brewers were playing Bauers in right field at times to get Vaughn in the lineup, but it's unlikely they do that again next year if they pay him big in free agency. They already have Sal Frelick and Luis Lara ready to platoon in right field as they did in October, and Garrett Mitchell and Jackson Chourio will play every day.
Vaughn is a great hitter, but he is the odd man out. Just like he took Rhys Hoskins job when Hoskins was hurt in 2025, Bauers took Vaughn's job this year.
Vaughn was the third overall pick of the 2019 draft, but never found his footing with the Chicago White Sox. Since being traded to the Brewers, he has fixed his swing and approach, and has hit .306 with an .849 OPS. He hit well against lefties and righties this year, but there is simply no real spot for him if Bauers is brought back.
Vuaghn is actually such a good hitter that the Brewers even tried him at third base to get him in the lineup. He slashed .306/.390/.444 in 104 games last season.
On the Mets, he could be the everyday first baseman. He is one year away from free agency, so it's around the time the Brewers start thinking about trading players like him.