Proposed blockbuster Mets trade sees land $33 million All-Star, Batting Title winner to finally replace bat of Pete Alonso

Proposed blockbuster Mets trade sees land $33 million All-Star, Batting Title winner to finally replace bat of Pete Alonso originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The New York Mets have had a decent start to the 2026 season, going 7-5 through their first 12 games, and sitting in third in the NL East. However, they are still missing one key thing, that they tried to address over the offseason: replacing the bat of Pete Alonso.

The Mets acquired Bo Bichette, Marcus Semien, and others in hopes of replacing him in the aggregate, but so far, there’s no other superstar bat to pair with Juan Soto’s. Sports Illustrated’s Patrick McAvoy proposes they solve that by trading with the rebuilding Tampa Bay Rays for their last slugging star, Yandy Diaz.

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The trade would look like this:

Mets get: 1B/DH Yandy Diaz

Rays get: MLB No. 45 overall prospect RHP Jonah Tong, NYM No. 8 prospect SS Elian Pena

“The New York Mets are off to a solid 7‑4 start in 2026, but the recent calf strain to Juan Soto has left a significant hole at the top of their lineup. Acquiring Yandy Díaz provides an immediate solution: a high-OBP, contact-heavy right-handed bat who can slot into the top or middle of the order, maintaining offensive production while Soto is sidelined. Díaz’s ability to consistently get on base and produce multi-category stats makes him a fantasy and MLB asset, helping the Mets sustain run-scoring opportunities and protecting the middle-of-the-order hitters. Additionally, Díaz’s presence gives the Mets lineup stability and depth without sacrificing long-term prospects,” McAvoy wrote.

So far this season, Diaz is slashing .362/.455/.553/1.008 with one double, one triple two home runs, and 10 RBI in 12 games. He might not have the deep ball power of Alonso, but he more than makes up for it with his AVG, OPS and RBI.

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He’d only cost $12 million for the season, as well. If the Mets like what he brings, his market value calls for a two-year, $33 million extension, which is easy money for New York.

Hopefully, the Mets find a way to do this, as pairing his bat with Soto’s and hopefully Bichette’s could give them a nasty heart of the lineup.

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