As the Mets’ staring contest with Pete Alonso continues, they continue to put out feelers for other first basemen on the trade market.
According to On SI’s Pat Ragazzo, New York has “checked in on” Yandy Díaz of the Tampa Bay Rays. Ragazzo added that this isn’t the first conversation the clubs have had regarding Díaz this offseason.
The 33-year-old hit .281/.341/.414 with 14 home runs, 65 RBIs, 120 wRC+ and 1.9 fWAR over 621 plate appearances in 2024. He was also one of the league’s most productive position players in 2023, winning the American League batting title as well as a Silver Slugger Award and earning his first-ever All-Star nod while slashing .330/.410/.522 to go with 22 homers, a 163 wRC+ and 5.0 fWAR.
Díaz, who owns an .806 OPS and 130 wRC+ across his eight-year major league career, will earn $10 million in 2025 and has a $12 million club option for the 2026 campaign.
Ragazzo previously reported that the Mets have shown interest in Spencer Torkelson and Ryan Mountcastle of the Detroit Tigers and Baltimore Orioles, respectively, while they wait for the Alonso situation to sort itself out. Torkelson, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2020 MLB Draft, posted a .669 OPS in 2024 after hitting 33 home runs the year prior while Mountcastle is coming off of a season in which he logged a .733 OPS and 1.5 fWAR.
Furthermore, Ragazzo stated that New York “likes” right-handed reliever Ryan Brasier, who was designated for assignment by the Los Angeles Dodgers this week. Over 29 outings for the club last season, he recorded a 3.54 ERA, 3.31 FIP and 25 strikeouts in 28 innings.
