An offseason packed with New York Mets rumors produced plenty of noise, but one idea stood out as arguably the worst of them all: a supposed first base plan in a world without Pete Alonso. Between speculation linking Alonso to the Baltimore Orioles and chatter about Jorge Polanco landing in Queens, there was even talk of a first base platoon that would have felt less like a transition plan and more like waving the white flag on the 2026 season before it ever began.
For a franchise trying to reestablish credibility and contend in the near future, the idea of replacing Alonso’s production with a patchwork solution never made much sense. It was the kind of rumor that left Mets fans shaking their heads, hoping it would stay exactly that — just offseason speculation, and nothing more.
The rumor itself was enough to make Mets fans recoil: Jeff McNeil and Paul Goldschmidt splitting time at first base. On every level, it felt wildly unbalanced — a pairing that satisfied neither logic nor emotion. Both the head and the heart rejected it outright.
If this is the first time you’re hearing that such a rumor ever floated around, apologies for the damage done. It probably cost David Stearns a sliver of trust just for being associated with the idea, even hypothetically. Of course, there’s always the chance it was nothing more than early-offseason misdirection. And if that’s the case? Well played.
Out of all of the Mets rumors, this would have felt like intentional grounding more than anything else
Okay, so Goldschmidt wouldn’t be the absolute worst fit for the Mets. In their current incarnation, with Polanco, he’s a bit redundant. Give me what Mark Vientos can potentially do over the last sips Goldschmidt can offer. Please!
Goldschmidt can still smash left-handed pitchers. His power is diminishing, his defensive abilities are fading, and his $4 million from the New York Yankees this offseason is about right for what he can do.
Then there’s McNeil. Someone we all believed would get traded by the Mets was dealt. If there’s one thing that would have been absolutely wasteful to do with him it would have been regular appearances at first base. McNeil’s defensive versatility goes entirely to waste as a first baseman. Second base or a corner outfield spot is where he belongs most. First base works in a pinch.
The first base plan for the Mets remains slightly unclear with continued trade rumors involving Vientos. We know Polanco is a big part of the plan, but they’ve asserted nothing and there are other opportunities. One could include trading Vientos and signing free agent Ty France.
The key to a good platoon is for the players to land correctly in the role. From an offensive standpoint, Goldschmidt pairs well with a lefty who dominates against right-handed pitchers. That has never been who McNeil was. He was more balanced.
Fortunately, this plan never got a first down. It would have been a devastatingly weak transition away from the franchise’s best slugger. Fortunately, it never dragged on for long.
