With the news yesterday that Pete Alonso will most likely be playing somewhere else in 2025, fans have been wondering about the New York Mets' backup plan. Although they brought in Juan Soto, many feel the Mets still need another bat in their lineup. This isn't just a sentiment among fans but the front office as well. It's been reported that the Mets promised Soto at least one more bat to protect him in the lineup.
Many fans have brought up star players like Alex Bregman and Vladimir Guerrero Jr as potential replacements for Alonso. The Mets have also explored the possibility of bringing in Anthony Santander. A player they've had an interest in even before the Alonso news broke. While Santander is someone who can make an impact for the team, there's a more affordable player available who can make the same impact, Jurickson Profar.
Why Jurickson Profar is a good replacement for Pete Alonso
Back in 2013, Profar was the most anticipated prospect in baseball. He wasn't just the top prospect in the Texas Rangers system, but the number one prospect in all of baseball, according to MLB Pipeline. He was seen as a good all-around hitter who can play elite defense. However, over the first ten years, he's failed to live up to that hype, specifically when it came to his performance at the plate.
His performance in 2024 though changed the narrative surronding him. Profar had a career year with the San Diego Padres, slashing .280/.380/.459 with 24 home runs, 85 RBIs, an OPS+ of 134, and a wRC+ of 139. Compare that to Santander who slashed .235/.308/.506 with 44 home runs 102 RBIs, a OPS+ of 134, and a wRC+ of 129. Although Santander has better power numbers, Profar is a more well-rounded hitter.
Now the biggest concern with Profar is if his 2024 performance is sustainable. However, the analytics suggest that he can put up the same. He had a BABIP of .302 and a xwOBA .364, meaning that his numbers come more from skill rather than luck. He also has a hard-hit percentage of 71% according to Baseball Savant, meaning his hits came off solid contact, rather than getting lucky on soft contact.
Profar also brings more defensive versatility than Santander. Santander has mainly been an outfielder his entire career. Sure he's played 13 games at first, but these were in emergencies. Profar on the other hand has played all over the time. While he's also spent most of his time in the outfield, he's played 219 games at second, 89 games at third, and 72 games at first. This versatility allows the Mets to be flexible with their defensive alignments.
The Mets have already stated they plan to move Mark Vientos to first base, and Profar makes that transition easier. You can put him at third and move Vientos to first, which is the simplest option. However, the Mets can also get creative and put Profar at second and move Jeff McNeil or Ronny Mauricio to third. They even can just put Profar at first if they don't want to rock the boat too much.
Although Santander is the bigger name free agent, the smarter baseball move is to bring in Profar.