Mets linked to Pete Alonso’s apparent backup plan if first baseman leaves in free agency

New York Mets they are about to enter one of the most important offseasons in the last 25 years. The front office’s top priority will be trying to lure superstar outfielder Juan Soto away from the team. New York Yankees. This will be quite a challenge for the Mets, but if they can pull it off, it will be the biggest step the Mets can take.

Besides Soto, the Mets will be tasked with bringing back their superstar Pete Alonso to play first base for the next five, six or seven years in the Big Apple. Alonso has been a staple for the Mets throughout his time in the major leagues, but there is no guarantee they will be able to bring him back. Chicago Cubs, Seattle Mariners and plenty of other teams will be pushing hard to get help to first base.

So what’s the Mets’ next option if they miss out on Alonso?

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MLB insider Jim Bowden has the perfect idea: Christian Walker from Arizona Diamondbacks.

“Christian Walker is one of the best first basemen in the sport. Despite years of experience, he’s never made an All-Star team, and I think he was the biggest snub at the All-Star Game this summer. The two-time Golden Glove Award winner is in line to win his third since leading NL first basemen in strikeouts above average“,” Bowden wrote. “Even though he missed more than a month with an oblique injury, he finished the season with 26 home runs and 84 RBIs in 130 games. This was the third year in a row that he hit at least 25 bombs while posting an OPS+ of over 120.”

In the eyes of some, Walker is considered a better first baseman compared to Alonso. Either way, Walker is one of the most underrated players in the entire game.

Walker consistently hits 25 or more home runs with an OPS+ of 120 or better. Couple that with his incredible Gold Glove-caliber defense and you have one of the most valuable first basemen in the league.

The Diamondbacks will be very aggressive in trying to bring Walker back this offseason, but the Mets simply have more money to spend. If they want to get into a bidding war with the Diamondbacks, they absolutely can and will likely win it very easily. Walker’s age (33) is a minor red flag when considering a multi-year deal, but if Alonso goes elsewhere, New York may not have much of a choice.