NY Mets curiously named a free agent match for a player they sort of already have

After a 74-win season and landing at the bottom of the division, the New York Mets have no shortage of offseason needs. Aside from needing to reload their pitching staff, the offense could use some help as well. One of the weakest aspects of the lineup was first base, a position that was largely split between Jared Young and Mark Vientos. Mets first basemen combined for an OPS of just .667, 28th in MLB.

As a result, it's unsurprising that some are suggesting that it be an area of focus for the team this winter. This year's crop of free agent sluggers isn't exactly the most alluring but the Brewers' Jake Bauers has been tabbed as a potential target for the Mets. 2026 was a breakout season for the 31-year-old, culminating in a 143 wRC+ (7th in MLB), so on paper, it's a great fit. However, signing Bauers may be more of a roster redundancy than a true addition.

Look no further — Jared Young could be the first base slugger the Mets have been seeking

There are a lot of similarities between Jared Young and Jake Bauers. Both are first basemen who dabble in playing the outfield and swing the bat left-handed. Both struggled to play above replacement level before this year and both seem like they could help the Mets.

2026 was the first year that Young had a regular role at the big-league level and he didn't disappoint. He posted a 113 OPS+ with 17 doubles and nine home runs across 342 plate appearances. His Statcast percentiles were about league-average but his hard-hit rate was in the top quartile and there are signs that he could have even more pop left in the tank.

The difference in offensive production in favor of Bauers was largely due to better launch angles and a much higher walk rate (16.3%) but Young had better whiff and strikeout numbers. He'll be under club control until 2032 so the Mets have a few years to see what his total upside can be without too much of a financial commitment. Bauers, on the other hand, is projected by The Athletic to sign a contract close to $60 million.

As they prepare to return to playoff contention, it seems like the organization is adopting an adjusted approach to roster construction. Rather than throwing money at the biggest name free agents, taking a more analytical approach and investing in the team's current assets could be just what they need.

The Mets may be priced out of their other infield free agent target but it's not the end of the world. Rather than relying on someone like Bauers to help out at first base, why not lean on what the organization already has? Jared Young has the potential to be an impact bat but the team will have to give him enough of a chance to prove himself first.

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