Discouraging NY Mets rumors reveal a weak plan to fill first base vacancy

Tim Healey no longer covers the New York Mets, now focusing on the Boston Red Sox. Even so, he delivered one of more discouraging Mets rumors you can ever expect to see.

In the wake of losing Pete Alonso to the Baltimore Orioles, the Mets now have a huge vacancy at first base. How will they fill it? One idea floating around in the team's head has the Mets platooning Jeff McNeil alongside free agent Paul Goldschmidt.

The Mets are going to need to do a lot more if this is their first base plan

A first base platoon always seems weak. It’s a position where if you aren’t getting significant offensive production, you probably made a mistake somewhere along the way.

Goldschmidt hammered left-handed pitchers last year, slashing .336/.411/.570 in 168 plate appearances. Now a part-time player who’d fit in as a right-handed half of a platoon, he’s a cheap option to put over at first base. He’ll play next year at 38 and has a high potential to see age catch up to him quickly.

Paired with McNeil, the Mets take away the one quality about McNeil’s game that continues to bring constant value: playing all over the field. He saw some limited action at first base. There’s nothing in his defensive game to suggest he belongs there unless the Mets actually believe he can provide them with even better defense at the position than anyone else.

It would be a devastating turn in an already questionable offseason for the Mets to settle on one of the small number of New York Yankees free agents none of us had much interest in pursuing, Goldschmidt. What’s more, it means retaining McNeil rather than trading him away for someone, anyone, else. There are circumstances where McNeil can fit into the team’s plans next year. In a platoon at first base trying to replace what Alonso gave them is truly devastating.

Worst of all, Goldschmidt and McNeil together on the roster means one less possible addition. Platoons are fine in the right circumstance. This one, especially at first base, is light on power and is as dry as it gets.