Spring Training Countdown
The New York Mets are rounding out their offseason with potential packaged-trade proposals, player pivots, and more pickups. With more moving pieces and uncertainties in the infield, Mets owner Steve Cohen and the front office are navigating a complex roster-building strategy with less than a month until pitchers and catchers report.
Packaged Proposal for Prolific Guerrero Jr.
Reports are swirling that the Mets are assembling a major trade package for Toronto Blue Jays’ Vladimir Guerrero Jr. The rumored offer includes several organizational keys—some names thrown in by various insiders/spectators including star third baseman Mark Vientos, utilityman Luisangel Acuña, shortstop Jett Williams, and right-handed pitching prospect Jonah Tong.
Guerrero Jr. will earn $28.5 million for 2025 after [recently] avoiding arbitration with the Blue Jays. With no updates in extension talks, he is still set to hit the market as an unrestricted free agent next offseason.
This trade package shows the Mets’ willingness to part with several promising players to land a superstar like Guerrero Jr., who has a career .288/.363/.500 line with 160 HR and 501 RBI since his debut in 2019.
A source confirms to me that the #Mets are trying to put together a package to present to Toronto in exchange for Vladimir Guerrero Jr. #Toronto pic.twitter.com/LgxWiPjDTp
— Mike Rodriguez (@mikedeportes) January 15, 2025
Plan-B Pivot from Pete Alonso
This trade pursuit comes amid the Mets’ signing of utility OF/DH Jesse Winker to a one-year deal, a move that has sparked discussions about the team’s future plans with Pete Alonso. Not that the Mets are “out” on Alonso, which could very well be a negotiation tactic, but multiple reports state there is a cloud of uncertainty surrounding the hangup on both sides.
Alonso, the Mets’ cornerstone power hitter with 226 HR and 586 RBI since his 2019 debut, has yet to come to terms with vacating his free-agent-post, leading to speculation that the Mets may be looking to move on if the price isn’t right. Rumors of short and long-term opt-out-laden projections, back-and-forths, and “let’s wrap this up” commentary have plagued what most people thought would be a fruitful offseason for the slugger.
With the bringing back of Winker—who has a .262/.367/.437 career slash and a strong 2024 campaign in the rearview—the Mets are potentially preparing for a future without the Polar Bear. Winker’s clutch hitting and ability to add depth to the lineup as a consistent on-base-asset might be the first step in this pivot, indicating a potential shift in the team’s offensive strategy. Regardless of the potential lineup-fluff, the Mets have a gaping hole at first base without Alonso being locked down.
The Mets have pivoted to plan B, post-Alonso. They now consider it the most likely outcome that Alonso will sign elsewhere. They add Winker and will add a reliever, possibly a top one.
— Andy Martino (@martinonyc) January 16, 2025
Elian Peña Pick-Up
Additionally, the Mets’ $5 million signing of international free agent Elian Peña, a No. 3 Top Prospect shortstop from the Dominican Republic with explosive tools and an exceptional approach at the plate, further highlights their focus on building up depth in the farm system while simultaneously preparing for potential changes at the big-league level.
The @Mets sign SS Elian Peña for $5 million
Peña earns the top bonus in the 2025 class for a Latin American prospect pic.twitter.com/ImChWvTpQf
— Baseball America (@BaseballAmerica) January 15, 2025
Spring Training on the Horizon
Unless Guerrero Jr. is a surefire for Queens, the consensus still stands: Mets fans want Pete Alonso on the roster. Every day without a “Breaking News” post from the league’s most information-privy insiders is an inch closer to him reporting elsewhere for Spring Training.
