NY Mets rumors: Winter trade target would've solved needs on both sides of the ball

The New York Mets are struggling to score runs at the requisite level to begin the 2026 season. They just got swept by the Athletics at home and were shut out in two of the three games. Of course, Juan Soto's recent unavailability has made the Mets' scoring problems all the more glaring.

Run production was a huge question mark this past offseason for Mets fans as they watched PBO David Stearns do away with familiar bats Pete Alonso, Jeff McNeil, and Brandon Nimmo, the latter of whom is raking for the Texas Rangers right now. Alonso's departure also created a logistical question defensively ... who would be New York's first baseman in 2026? Jorge Polanco -- never before a first baseman in his career -- became the theoretical answer, but in practice, the Mets have worked with a first-base-by-committee plan so far. Polanco's made all but two starts as the team's designated hitter.

These all sound like questions that could be answered with a single player: Willson Contreras! It's too bad Stearns and the Mets didn't pull off a trade for Contreras this past winter, as failing to snag him is already looking regrettable (some people called it back in February).

The Mets really should have traded for Willson Contreras

Besides being an excellent defensive first baseman (a status that only promises to grow as he spends more time there), Contreras is a legitimate offensive asset. He started 2026 cold but has recently begun to produce for a Boston Red Sox lineup that badly needs him to.

A day after going 2-for-4 with three RBI against his former team the St. Louis Cardinals, Contreras returned to Busch Stadium on Sunday and smashed his third homer of the season in the first inning. He followed that up with three more hits, including an RBI single, finishing the game 4-for-5 with three RBI. He's now slashing .302/ .448/ .509/ .957 on the season.

The Red Sox acquired Contreras for all the same reasons that the Mets should've, but didn't. Boston was looking to prioritize run prevention with their winter moves, and lacking an MLB first baseman stood out like a sore thumb amid that plan. Triston Casas wasn't viewed as a reliable option at first base, due to his injury status and history of inconsistency. The Red Sox also desperately needed some power in their lineup as they watched the Alex Bregman negotiations dwindle. Thus, they dipped into their ample store of tradable young arms and acquired Contreras in late December to address the above problems.

Boston's offense has been incredibly weak to begin the season up until the last two games, and it's a blessing for them that they've had Contreras to provide at least a little pop. This exact sentence could have described the New York Mets right now if they'd added Contreras. Alas, that didn't happen, and the Mets may have to just keep treading water until Soto returns. Good luck.