5 right-handed hitters other than Austin Hays who seem to match recent NY Mets rumors

New York Mets rumors about their desire to add a right-handed hitter with power, who can play some first base as well, is giving fans flashbacks to the 2019-2025 seasons. Didn’t the team just let that exact player walk away?

We understand the Mets didn’t want to pay $155 million over 5 years to keep Alonso. A desire to change things up behind the scenes as well likely led to his ending in Queens.

Austin Hays is one name who has appeared in the Mets rumors. A good part-time player and placeholder in left field, the Mets have some alternatives to him they should seek out as well. A mix of free agents and trade candidates fit the billing.

1) Miguel Andujar

As much as we’re sick of seeing the Mets sign ex-New York Yankees players, this one kind of fits almost perfectly. Miguel Andujar has played a lot of third base and left field with some dabbling at first base. He’s a natural candidate to transition to more time at first base.

Last year’s numbers against left-handed pitchers included a .389/.409/.578 slash line with 4 home runs in 93 trips to the plate. He handled himself well enough against righties, batting .290/.331/.429. On the Mets, he’d be more of a DH than anything else. Consider Jorge Polanco the starting first baseman and Andujar his DH counterpart.

Andujar and Hays ended up as Cincinnati Reds teammates last year with the former taking the load as the club’s DH. He thrived in Cincinnati after a successful year and a half with the Athletics. Although it goes entirely against the notion of run prevention, it appears the Mets are willing to divert in other directions as well.