The Mets are headed into the offseason with a clear need at first base, and the most practical answer might not be the biggest name on the market.
After moving on from Pete Alonso last winter, President of Baseball Operations David Stearns got a harsh reminder of what that position looks like without a true everyday anchor. Jorge Polanco filled in as Alonso’s replacement, but an injury-marred 2026 season likely leaves him limited to designated hitter work next year. That opened the door for Jared Young, who made the most of his chance and put himself firmly in the conversation for a bigger role.
Young appeared in 103 games and hit .266/.330/.429 with 17 doubles, nine home runs and 39 RBIs. That’s useful production, but it doesn’t scream “full-time first baseman” for 2027. The cleaner setup for New York would be to pair him with a right-handed bat and form a platoon.
Among the available options, Jake Burger stands out as the best trade fit.
Burger doesn’t carry the same name recognition as some other first basemen, but the power is real. In three of his four full major league seasons, the right-handed hitter has launched at least 28 home runs. The underlying tools back that up, too: his 75.7 mph bat speed and 12.3% barrel rate both sit in at least the 80th percentile, according to Baseball Savant.
The catch is consistency. Burger’s 2026 season was uneven, and he finished at .228/.302/.421 with 23 doubles, 28 home runs and 90 RBIs.
A lot of that damage came against left-handed pitching, where he hit .265 with 12 home runs and an .891 OPS. Against right-handers, though, he managed just .215 with a .659 OPS.
That split is exactly why he makes sense for the Mets. In a platoon, Burger could be deployed mostly against lefties, where his bat plays best, while Young handles the other side of the matchup. It’s a natural fit.
The Rangers may also be in a position to listen. Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News reported that Texas is open to moving several key players this offseason as it looks to “reallocate” money while keeping payroll around $190 million. Burger isn’t one of the club’s priciest pieces, with MLB Trade Rumors projecting him at $6.9 million in arbitration, but the presence of higher-paid veterans with full no-trade clauses - Jacob deGrom, Corey Seager and Nathan Eovaldi - could make him more available.
There’s another layer here for New York: Burger comes with two more seasons of team control. That makes him more than a short-term patch. And because he plays a less premium position and has had his share of offensive inconsistency, he probably wouldn’t cost as much in a trade as established first basemen such as Yandy Diaz or Christian Walker.
He’d also bring a solid glove. Burger isn’t a Gold Glove defender, but he posted plus-1 Outs Above Average at first base last season, which adds to his appeal.
The Mets do have other right-handed first-base possibilities, including Ty France and Paul Goldschmidt in free agency. But if they end up spending heavily elsewhere - on top targets like Tarik Skubal or Michael King, for example - a lower-cost trade route could make more sense. Burger fits that lane.
A Burger-Young platoon would give the Mets balance at first base and let each hitter work in the spots that suit him best. If Burger sharpens his production against right-handed pitching, he could even grow into the everyday job, with Young sliding into a bench or designated hitter role.
It may not be the splashiest move on the board, but for a team trying to rebuild the position without overpaying, it could be one of the smartest.
In Other News...
Giants Suddenly Face A Trade Deadline Debate Fans Didn't Expect
The idea sounds a little out of place for a franchise that has spent plenty of recent seasons trying to dig itself out of its own mess, but the Knicks bold 2024 move for Mikal Bridges is the kind of example that can change how a city thinks about risk. New York paid a steep price in draft capital, waited for the payoff, and eventually got a championship out of it, which is exactly why the conversation around the Giants now feels different than the usual deadline chatter. If the front office believes this roster is close enough to matter, the temptation is to treat the trade deadline less like a cleanup date and more like a chance to accelerate the timeline.
For the Giants, that means the usual questions about depth, holes and future flexibility suddenly come with a more aggressive edge. The roster still has areas that could use help, and the deadline always forces teams to decide whether they are patching around the edges or trying to make a real statement about where they think the season is headed. No one is pretending the answer is simple, but the Knicks example has at least opened the door to a bigger debate than Giants fans expected this time of year. [Read more 🡒]
Giants Suddenly Have A Backfield Concern Before Eagles Game
The Giants backfield got a lot thinner this week as Cam Skattebo sat out his fourth straight practice with a hamstring injury, leaving his status for the upcoming matchup with the Eagles in serious doubt. While Malik Nabers was back on the field Friday and is not considered an injury concern, the focus in East Rutherford has shifted to how New York will handle the backfield if Skattebo cannot go.
With an open roster spot after releasing quarterback Jake Haener, the Giants have some flexibility to make a move before game day. Whether they use it on a running back or a player who can help in the return game, the timing suggests they are at least weighing options as they try to avoid being short-handed against Philadelphia. Charlie Jones is also in the mix on the injury report, listed as questionable with a hand issue. [Read more 🡒]
Giants Suddenly Have A Trade Deadline Opening They Cant Ignore
With the Nov. 10 trade deadline approaching, the Giants are being linked to a possible backfield upgrade as they sort through a run game that has become harder to manage by the week. The fit being discussed is Derrick Henry, whose history with coach John Harbaugh has kept the idea alive as New York looks for a proven answer rather than a short-term patch.
The timing is obvious enough, given the injuries piling up in the backfield and the heavier burden on Devin Singletary. Still, there has been no official move or confirmation, which leaves the Giants in that familiar deadline spot: aware of the need, aware of the options, and now waiting to see whether the front office decides this is the moment to act. [Read more 🡒]