3 free agent first basemen the NY Mets could’ve signed for under $2 million

It’s not quite MLB rumors season, but that won’t stop early season chatter about who could change teams this summer. Speculation that we could see trades sooner than later this year for a jolt of intrigue, Jon Heyman got specific and shared some New York Mets rumors last week about what they could be seeking.

He says it’s a power bat they could go on the hunt for early. With injuries stockpiling like bottles of water in December 1999 in preparation for Y2K, the Mets certainly could use the assistance.

First base is and will remain an ongoing question with the team regardless of any home runs Mark Vientos may occasionally hit or promise Brett Baty shows one week before disappearing the next. It was a questionable spot from the start and any of these three players, all on deals costing less than $2 million, could have been an unexpected upgrade. Maybe more than anything, they should have been the ones added instead of Jorge Polanco whose $20 million deal is more than 10 times as much as these three will take home.

Any of these three free agents could have been major bargains for the Mets to round out their bench

1) Ty France

The Mets actually did have interest in Ty France. He chose the San Diego Padres and probably because everyone on a cheap, no-lose deal for the team did. Getting paid $1.35 million this year, he’s giving the Padres a much better performance. He’s hitting a solid .283/.321/.528 with 3 home runs and 8 RBI in 56 plate appearances.

France wouldn’t have been anyone’s top choice to carry the load at first base. However, as a depth addition who could possibly give them good run prevention and hit regularly against lefties, this feels like an unfortunate miss. Blame it on France seizing a greater opportunity with the setup at first base with the Padres than what the Mets had.

Verdict: This only works if the Mets moved on from Mark Vientos before the season began.

2) Dominic Smith

This wasn’t going to happen and as a left-handed bat rather than a right-handed one, we can add in how even if Dominic Smith didn’t have an unceremonious departure from the Mets after the 2022 season, the fit wasn’t quite there. We’re second-guessing everything if we’re going to drag anyone in the Mets front office through the mud for not signing Smith.

Smith hitting .343/.375/.552 with 4 home runs and 17 RBI with the Atlanta Braves thus far on a $1.25 million contract is astoundingly painful to witness. Where was this for the Mets outside of the shortened 2020 season?

Verdict: Not a million years would Dominic Smith have ever come back here.

3) Nathaniel Lowe

Nathaniel Lowe’s defense has been up and down in his career. This is the same with France who has posted some elite and some horrific numbers at the position. Another lefty and a seemingly risky choice for the Mets at first base, the argument for him comes down to the fact he signed only a minor league deal with the Cincinnati Reds. Why didn’t the Mets at least bring him in? A good defender in the past with questions of his defensive abilities fading, it’s easy enough to justify when the team willingly took a chance on as many other first base options as they have.

Because he is in the majors, Lowe is now earning $1.75 million. It’s incredibly affordable and with some early success including a recent home run barrage, he needs to be included on a list of “missed targets never aimed at.” Lowe is batting .262/.342/.569 with 5 home runs and 15 RBI.

Verdict: This might have been the most worthwhile gamble to take.

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