At the moment, the New York Mets‘ lineup seems pretty loaded thanks to their pre-lockout investment on three starting pieces: outfielders Starling Marte and Mark Canha, and infielder Eduardo Escobar.
However, when you have the wealthiest owner in baseball in Steve Cohen, you don’t close the door on any potential signing.
The Mets have Pete Alonso as their starting first baseman (.262/.344/.519 with 37 home runs in 2021), and Dom Smith as a capable backup there.
However, they “checked in” on first baseman Freddie Freeman (.300/.393/.503 with 31 homers and 120 runs last year) before the lockout, per ESPN’s Buster Olney.
“The Mets checked in on Freddie Freeman prior to the lockout. Growing belief is that Freeman isn’t going back to ATL. If Freeman goes to NYM, Pete Alonso would be DH,” SI.com’s Pat Ragazzo tweeted.
The Mets checked in on Freddie Freeman prior to the lockout. Growing belief is that Freeman isn’t going back to ATL. If Freeman goes to NYM, Pete Alonso would be DH@Buster_ESPN on it
— Pat Ragazzo (@ragazzoreport) February 25, 2022
Adding Freeman would make their lineup virtually unstoppable: imagine adding the 2020 NL MVP to Alonso, Jeff McNeil, Robinson Cano, Escobar, Canha, Marte, Brandon Nimmo, and Francisco Lindor.
The Mets Would Take Advantage Of The DH Spot If They Land Freeman
At least we know how the Mets would manage having both Alonso and Freeman in the lineup.
It’s also good to know that they could play Alonso on the field and give a breather to Freeman if he ever needs it.
For now, it’s just a chance, an inquiry, like dozens of others made before the lockout.
However, if the Atlanta Braves won’t sign Freeman arguing they don’t want to go to six years, and the New York Yankees decide to invest their dollars on a shortstop and some pitching, there might be an opening for the Mets to swoop in.
They have some pitching depth issues of their own that they need to attend to, but it’s hard to see them passing on the chance to sign a game-changing slugger.
Only time will tell where Freeman will end up, but don’t rule out the Mets.
