The New York Mets are looking for a first baseman to replace Pete Alonso and have consulted with the St. Louis Cardinals about the availability of Willson Contrerasas reported by a source to John Denton of MLB.com.
Pete Alonso entered free agency, signing a five-year, $155 million contract with the Baltimore Orioles on Wednesday. His departure came one day after closer Edwin Díaz agreed to terms with the Los Angeles Dodgers and two weeks after the Mets traded Brandon Nimmo to the Texas Rangers.
Willson Contreras he will become a full-time first baseman in 2025. The former catcher ranked sixth among major league first basemen in fielding run value last season, while Alonso tied for last in the category.
From an offensive point of view, Willson Contreras It also represents a solid alternative. At 33 years old, he posted a .257/.344/.447 line, with 20 home runs, 31 doubles and 80 RBIs in 135 games, numbers that reflect consistency and production in the middle of the order. Your ability to base yourself and generating contact could provide a different profile than that traditionally offered by Alonso, but without sacrificing power.
Regarding the contractual aspect, the Venezuelan has two years and 36.5 million dollars guaranteed left, in addition to a club option of 17.5 million for the 2028 season, which makes him a manageable piece from a financial point of view. However, any negotiation will not be easy, since Contreras has a total no-swap clause until the end of 2026, so he would have to personally approve any transfer.
According to various reports, the St. Louis Cardinals are open to listening to offers for Contreras, in an attempt to reorganize their roster and free up flexibility. For the Mets, the interest is clear, although the outcome will depend both on the package they can offer and on the player’s own willingness to change uniforms in this new stage of his career.
