Mets linked to Pete Alonso’s obvious backup plan if first baseman leaves in free agency

The New York Mets are about to enter one of the most important offseasons in the last 25 years. The front office’s top priority will be to sign superstar outfielder Juan Soto away from the New York Yankees. This will be a tall order for the Mets, but if they can pull it off, it will be the biggest move the Mets can ever make.

In addition to Soto, the Mets will be tasked with returning their superstar Pete Alonso to first base for the next five, six or seven years in the Big Apple. Alonso has been a fixture for the Mets throughout his time in the major leagues, but there is no guarantee they can bring him back. The Chicago Cubs, Seattle Mariners and several other teams will aggressively pursue help at first base.

What’s the next option for the Mets if they miss out on Alonso?

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MLB insider Jim Bowden pitched the perfect idea: Christian Walker of the Arizona Diamondbacks.

“Christian Walker is one of the best first basemen in the sport. Despite his years of production, he never made an All-Star team and I thought he was the biggest All-Star snap this summer. The two-time Gold Glove Award winner winner is about to win his third after leading NL first basemen with zeros above average,” Bowden wrote. Despite missing more than a month due to an oblique injury, he finished the season with 26 home runs and 84 RBIs in 130 games. It was the third year in a row that he hit at least 25 bombs and an OPS+ of more than 120.”

Walker is considered by some to be the better first baseman compared to Alonso. Regardless, Walker is one of the most underrated players in the entire game.

Walker consistently puts up 25 or more home runs with an OPS+ of 120 or better. Combine that with his incredible Gold Glove-level defense and you have one of the most valuable first basemen in the league.

The Diamondbacks will be very aggressive in their attempt to bring Walker back this season, but the Mets simply have more money to spend. If they want to get into a bidding war with the Diamondbacks, they absolutely can and would probably win it very easily. Walker’s age (33) is a small red flag when considering a multi-year deal, but if Alonso goes elsewhere, New York may not have much of a choice.