NY Mets were half-right, half-way-wrong to pursue this first base plan for 2026

Stealing New York Yankees free agents has become a thing for the New York Mets. Clay Holmes for the 2025 and 2026 season was one of the bigger successes. We’ve all enjoyed seeing Luke Weaver regularly out of the bullpen this year and Devin Williams, outside of a few blow-ups, has been good.

There’s actually another Yankees free agent from this past offseason who could’ve been a match for the Mets. It’s easy to forget, but Paul Goldschmidt was a perceived match to help guide us through the wilderness in the post-Pete Alonso era.

This isn’t just pulling an idea out of thin air. In the offseason, there were Mets rumors about the team considering a platoon at first base between Goldschmidt and Jeff McNeil. That, itself, isn’t satisfying. However, had Goldschmidt been added to the Mets roster you can figure he’d get every start against lefties (and more) plus a heavy dose of Jared Young at the moment against the tougher righties.

Paul Goldschmidt would have helped solve one of the biggest ongoing Mets problems

Goldschmidt has lived up to his reputation. Slashing .397/.500/.776 against left-handed pitching, he has been far weaker against the righties with a .215/.260/.376 slash line. The home runs are split with 4 against righties in 100 plate appearances and 5 in only 70 tries against southpaws.

Meanwhile, the Mets have a major hole at first base whenever they go up against a left-handed pitcher. Mark Vientos is batting .264/.284/.417 with a pair of home runs. It’s not overwhelmingly horrific, but also trending in the wrong direction. What’s more, a 1 Outs Above Average for Goldschmidt at first base vs. -4 for Vientos provides us with another element to prefer the Yankees part-timer over the hope there was more left in the tank for the once promising Mets slugger.

Thinking a Goldschmidt platoon with Young would have worked out perfectly is a pipe dream as that was never in anyone’s plans. Young hammered Triple-A pitching, but the heavier part of a first base platoon is something not even David Stearns can honestly say he expected.

Over in Sacramento with the A’s, McNeil is batting .243/.301/.325 against right-handed pitchers. Those kinds of results with the Mets, in a platoon with Goldschmidt, would have had the team searching for a different solution.

A combined .652 OPS against left-handed pitchers this year has the Mets ranking 27th in MLB. For only $4 million, Goldschmidt would have been a cure. Their inability to find a taker for Vientos as well as maybe even Goldschmidt’s desire to stay with the Yankees spoiled this opportunity before it ever took place.

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Follow