Done Deal: New York Mets manager Carlos Mendoza has secured a potential power hitter from the Yankees to replace Pete Alonso, with Anthony Vincent Rizzo agreeing to an $80 million contract with the Mets after…

Mets’ major trade proposal could bring in a $75 million power hitter to take Pete Alonso’s place.

If the Pete Alonso era with the New York Mets is indeed coming to an end, the team’s focus should shift to finding another potential power hitter to replace him.

Alonso, a four-time All-Star first baseman, has been seeking a contract worth over $30 million annually, a sum the Mets have not been willing to offer. If he leaves, the Mets’ current plan to fill the void seems uncertain.

The team could move Mark Vientos from third base to first and let young players like Brett Baty, Luisangel Acuña, and Ronny Mauricio compete for infield spots. But what if a more solid solution could be found through a major trade?

One potential trade target for the Mets is Ryan Mountcastle, the Baltimore Orioles’ first baseman. With Mountcastle sharing playing time with Ryan O’Hearn in Baltimore, he has quietly posted a 114 OPS+ over his five-year career.

In a hypothetical trade suggested by Newsweek’s Drew VonScio, the Mets could acquire Mountcastle by sending right-handed pitcher José Buttó and prospect Dom Hamel to the Orioles.

VonScio argued that, with the first-base free agent market stalled while waiting on Alonso, the trade market offers a better option for the Mets. He pointed out that the Orioles have a surplus of first basemen and may look to make a move to clear space.

Mountcastle, who has two years of team control remaining and would be 30 when he hits free agency, could be a more affordable option for the Mets compared to Alonso. With an estimated market value of $75 million over five years, Mountcastle would cost about half of what the Mets might pay Alonso.

It’s worth noting that Mountcastle’s production may have been negatively impacted by playing in Baltimore’s spacious Camden Yards, which has robbed him of many home runs that would likely clear the fences at Citi Field.

In 2024, Mountcastle posted a .425 slugging percentage, while his expected slugging percentage was .445. The year before, his actual SLG was .452, but his xSLG was .503. He’s also a solid defender at first base, with two outs above average in 2024.

The $75 million figure is a projection for a five-year deal, but Mountcastle hasn’t yet reached that level of value. However, if he were to hit 30 home runs a season in New York, the Mets would likely be willing to meet that price.