Who’s on first for the Mets? That’s one of the bigger offseason questions hanging over Queens, and it’s hard to ignore the fact that Jared Young has looked good there while also being someone the team probably can’t afford to lean on as the whole answer.
The Mets also have Jorge Polanco around, even if somewhat unwillingly. That alone makes the case for building in more depth at first base before the season gets away from them.
Before the 2026 season ends, there are four players who should at least spend an inning with a first baseman’s mitt.
Juan Soto is the obvious name at the top of the list. Around the league, there’s already a sense that first base could be part of his future with the Mets before his contract runs out.
That’s usually the route teams start exploring with outfielders whose defense has slipped below average, and Soto fits that description. He hasn’t been atrocious in left field this year, but he’s still not a strong defender there.
Coming off two calf injuries, including the one that’s sidelining him now, a brief look at first base this season could serve as the first step in a slower transition. Maybe he takes to it.
The Mets have made every effort to keep Soto comfortable and happy, and the idea here is to test the waters now, then maybe expand it to a few appearances in 2027 and something closer to half the time in 2028.
Francisco Alvarez belongs in the conversation for a different reason. The bat is part of the equation, but the glove behind the plate is not enough to lock him into everyday catching duties.
With the Mets putting so much into defense, it makes sense to see whether he can give them something useful at first base. There’s no guarantee he’d be good right away, but if it helps keep his bat in the lineup without simply parking him at DH, that adds another layer of flexibility.
If the Mets are going to keep both Alvarez and Luis Torrens, they stand to gain more if Alvarez can at least handle acceptable defense somewhere else. First base is the spot.
Marcus Semien is the more unexpected idea, but it isn’t as wild as it sounds. He’s not long removed from winning Gold Gloves at second base, yet this year has been a huge step back.
With his range diminished, a move away from second could make sense, and first base would be a natural landing spot if the Mets need one. The thinking is straightforward: if a player has been a strong defender at one position, he may be able to handle first.
That possibility could become more relevant by 2028, especially if several prospects are pushing him out by then.
Then there’s Ronny Mauricio, whose path with the Mets looks narrow unless he can somehow become a first-base option. He has enough agility to play shortstop and enough size to fit the first-base profile, and the Mets have already tried worse defenders there without success.
Any real attempt would have to start in Triple-A, because the big-league opportunities appear limited. By 2027, he’d already be out of options, so this would be a last-ditch attempt to carve out a role.
Even then, there’s real doubt he could match what Young has been doing.
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Aidan Smiths arrival in the Mets system has given High-A Brooklyn a look at the kind of upside that usually makes prospect watchers lean in. The outfielder, acquired from the Rays, has already flashed the power and speed that helped make him an intriguing addition, and the early returns with the Cyclones have shown why the organization is interested in what comes next.
The next step, though, is the part that will determine how quickly he moves. Smith has been working to cut down on strikeouts by sharpening his swing decisions and pitch selection, a familiar but crucial challenge for a young hitter with tools. The ability to do damage is there, but the Mets still need to see more consistency before the rest of his game can really take off. [Read more 🡒]
Luis Torrens Is Giving Mets Fans A Reason To Reconsider Him
Luis Torrens spent much of the first half of 2026 looking like a glove-first catcher whose bat was lagging behind, which made his place on the roster feel more about necessity than impact. But the Mets stood pat at the deadline and even showed their belief in him back in May with a two-year contract extension, keeping him in the fold while trusting that his value would not be defined by one sluggish stretch at the plate.
August has started to change that conversation. Torrens has looked much more like the version the Mets hoped they were getting, combining the defense that has long been his calling card with noticeably better offense in recent games. For a club that has already committed to him, the timing matters, because the more he hits, the less his roster spot feels like a placeholder and the more it looks like a legitimate part of the Mets' plans. [Read more 🡒]