The New York Mets have suffered another blow in an eventful offseason: the departure of Pete Alonso to the Orioles. However, the franchise is already looking for immediate solutions, and one of them is in the Midwest. According to MLB.com, the Mets held talks with the St. Louis Cardinals to explore a possible trade for Willson Contreras, the three-time All-Star catcher who in 2025 played mostly as a first baseman.
Willson Contreras offers offensive production and defensive solidity
Contreras, 33, is coming off his 10th season in the majors, during which he hit .257/.344/.447, hit 20 home runs and drove in 80 runs. Beyond his consistent offense, his defense also stood out: according to Baseball Savant data, he recorded six outs above average, a metric that places him among the most valuable players at his position.
In 2025, he played 120 games at first base, making him a possible direct solution for the hole Alonso left in New York. In addition, his contract remains attractive to any team looking for stability: the Venezuelan has two guaranteed years remaining on his five-year, $87.5 million deal, with a club option for 2028.
Alonso’s departure deepens roster problems
Pete Alonso’s move to Baltimore on a five-year, $155 million contract represents one of the most difficult losses for the Mets. The slugger leaves Queens as the franchise’s all-time home run leader (264) and after a 2025 season in which he posted an OPS+ of 144, a significant improvement over his inconsistent 2024 campaign
His absence leaves the Mets without their primary source of power and creates an immediate void at first base, which explains the interest in Contreras.
New York faces more key roster decisions
The problems don’t end there. With the trade of Brandon Nimmo to the Rangers and the departure of closer Edwin Diaz to the Dodgers as a free agent, the Mets must also resolve left field and the back end of the bullpen.
The team has already begun to move on this last front: Devin Williams signed a three-year, $51 million contract in early December, which should provide stability at the end of games.
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