MLB Trade Rumors: NY Mets Eye Paul Goldschmidt As Alonso Backup Plan While Dodgers Refuse Long-Term Bellinger, Tucker Bids

With Pete Alonso officially signing a long-term deal elsewhere, the New York Mets find themselves scrambling to fill the open first-base spot. Among the top candidates internally: Paul Goldschmidt. Despite being 38, Goldschmidt remains a veteran bat with a track record of success — and the Mets appear to be taking him seriously.

Goldschmidt spent last season with the New York Yankees, producing solid offensive numbers overall, though his 2025 campaign was among the least productive of his career. Still, his historical track record — including six straight All-Star seasons earlier in his career and a former National League MVP award — gives him some credibility.

The idea reportedly is to platoon Goldschmidt with Jeff McNeil: McNeil could handle right-handed pitching while Goldschmidt takes lefties, softening the blow of Alonso’s exit while giving the Mets a reliable yet flexible solution at first base.

Of course, there are caveats. Goldschmidt’s decline in recent seasons — including lower walk rates and a rise in strikeouts — concerns some in the Mets organization, as does his age. But the Mets may view him as a short-term stopgap: a veteran presence who can help stabilize the lineup while younger infield options develop, or while the front office evaluates longer-term alternatives.

In short: Goldschmidt isn’t a flashy blockbuster — but in a year of major turnover, he might be exactly what the Mets need: a veteran stabilizer with enough experience to hold the fort at first base while the club reshuffles after a turbulent offseason.