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Mets expect to be 'looking externally' for first base help this offseason
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- Mets expect to be 'looking externally' for first base help this offseason
If Bo Bichette opts in for the 2027 season, the Mets will likely be set when it comes to most of their starting lineup, perhaps leaving first base and designated hitter as the two easiest ways for them to reshape the offense this offseason.
With that as a backdrop, president of baseball operations David Stearns spoke on Monday about the team's struggle to fill first base in 2026 after Pete Alonso signed a five-year deal with the Baltimore Orioles last offseason. On the decision to let Alonso walk, Stearns said he doesn't get "mulligans."
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As far as how the Mets will address first base this offseason?
"I do think it's potentially a combination of internal pieces and external," Stearns explained. "I don't think, sitting up here right now, I'm gonna close the door on anything. I think Jared Young had a really good second half of the season. When we gave him consistent playing time, he responded and performed.
"I think what we saw from Brett Baty , particularly over the last four-to-six weeks where he was one of the best offensive players in all of baseball -- we need to see him do that more consistently. Brett knows that. But I don't want to undercount that as well. We have other internal options, and I also think we're going to be looking externally as well."
On Baty specifically, Stearns was forthright regarding the possibility that his strong finish was fool's gold.
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In parts of five big league seasons with the Mets, Baty has showed promise at the plate, including when he posted a .748 OPS in 2025. But he has not been consistent enough.
"The truth is, we won't know," Stearns said about whether Baty can carry over his end-of-season success to 2027. "I do think having been around Brett for multiple years now, I think where he is from a mindset perspective, his level of belief in himself, and how he works through an at-bat, is different right now. But as with any player, until you see it for an extended period, very difficult for me to sit here right now and have complete certainty on that."
Regarding other internal options at first base, Jorge Polanco is theoretically one of them.
Aug 2, 2026; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets designated hitter Jorge Polanco (11) reacts after being callout on strikes during the seventh inning against the Miami Marlins at Citi Field. / Vincent Carchietta - Imagn Images
But Polanco missed the majority of this season due to a lingering ankle injury that required season-ending surgery. When he was on the field, he struggled badly, putting up a 22 OPS+ in 37 games.
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And Stearns doesn't have illusions about what to expect from Polanco in 2027, which is the second and final year of the contract he inked last offseason.
"With Jorge, the early stages of the rehab are going really well," Stearns said. "I know, having gotten to know the person over the last year, he's going to work exceptionally hard to put himself in position to contribute. I also don't know the exact extent of what that's going to look like. I'm not gonna sit here and say he's gonna play 120 games at first base.
"I think we need to wait and see where he is in spring training. I know that when he's healthy, this is a really good offensive player from both sides of the plate who can hit in the middle of the lineup and do a bunch of different things. I would love to have that version of player on the team, and I'm looking forward to seeing what we get in spring training."
When it comes to external options, the free agent market isn't particularly enticing.
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Ty France is coming off a huge season for the Padres (career-best .865 OPS), but is entering his age-32 season and is one year removed from signing a minor league deal.
An intriguing option could be Japanese slugger Teruaki Sato, who is expected to be posted for big league clubs this offseason.
Sato, 27, has been primarily a third baseman and outfielder in Japan, but could slide across the diamond to first base in the majors.
Sato smacked 37 homers in 136 games this season for the Hanshin Tigers while posting a career-best OPS of 1.017.
