Munetaka Murakami is enticing but the NY Mets must prioritize keeping Pete Alonso

To say New York Mets fans have a collective sour taste in their mouth from 2025 would be the understatement of the century. But there is one guy that I think we all hope to see return, despite the misery that just ensued.

Pete Alonso is actually one of the few Mets who cannot be accused of delivering such misery. He completed the Mets' season from hell with a .272 average, .871 OPS, and 126 RBIs.

It's easy to get distracted by the shiny new toy in the room. It's easy to assume that the grass on the other side is just a little bit greener. And it's easy to see the youth and potential in Japanese slugger Munetaka Murakami, and want to shift focus to him as the first baseman of the future. But I'm here to tell you that's not the right move.

Pete Alonso is simply a better option than Munetaka Murakami

Who is this Murakami guy anyway? He's a 6'2 corner infielder from Japan who's spent the majority of his career manning third base, with some work at first base as well. He's played for the Tokyo Yakult Swallows since 2018, having 265 home runs and 722 RBIs on a .273 average.

He also represented Japan in the 2023 World Baseball Classic, where he hit a walk-off home run in the semifinal against Mexico, and followed that up with a home run in the final win over the US. The kid comes with a pedigree, to be sure.

But it's not as if Murakami is a can't-miss prospect. Is he arguably the most anticipated position player to come out of Japan since Shohei Ohtani? Perhaps. But he is not Ohtani. What made Ohtani so unique was his dual-threat ability, pitching and hitting. He was also a better hitter than Murakami. This is not the same level of player that the Angels were receiving when they brought in Shohei – not for a second.

In Murakami, you're getting a legitimate young power bat, I know. But when you dive a little deeper, you see holes. His strikeout rate is a concern. In 224 at-bats in 2025, he struck out at a rate of 28.6%, and has been above 28% for three consecutive seasons (the MLB average was 22.2% in 2025).

Naturally, given his lack of patience at the plate, his walk numbers are poor as well. His walk rate this past year was 14.3%, a concerning trend likely to worsen as he faces higher-level pitching in the US. His on-base percentage has gone down every season since 2022 as well, suggesting this pattern is only getting worse as he matures.

So while there's a lot to love about the power in his bat, there is also a lot to grimace at. It's not as if he makes up for this in fielding output, either. Murakami, who also briefly saw time as a catcher in his youth, has never had a reputation as a lights-out fielder. Whether it be third base, where he has the most experience, or first base, where he's projected to play in the US, fielding isn't his forte.

The cost of all this uncertainty is almost sure to be substantial. Given international rules, he is no longer restricted by an amateur categorization. Therefore, he is free to negotiate the best deal possible. Based on recent Japanese contracts, he may land a deal lasting anywhere from five to ten years at a price point between $200 million and $300 million. That's a lot of money for a young hitter who struggles in the field and lacks discipline at the plate.

Is Pete perfect? No, no one is. But we know what he is, and that is really good. In his career as a Met, he has 712 RBIs, an .857 OPS, and a franchise record 264 home runs. In 2025, he had maybe his best season yet.

Why opt for the unknown, now? Pete reportedly wants up to seven years. I doubt an aging first-baseman who's an average fielder gets that many years. So Murakami might very well require a longer-term commitment anyway. Mets, do the right thing, and bring back the fan-favorite we already know is great.