If the New York Mets allow Pete Alonso to walk in free agency, as it seems like he wants to stay in Queens, they’ll have an opportunity to replace him with a few players on the market.
The reality of the situation, however, is that unless the Mets get a proven bat in this league, there will be questions about how they’ll look in the long term.
Alonso is as good as it gets power-wise, so giving up on him might be a bit questionable.
Are Mets eyeing Pete Alonso replacement?
If they do, there’s one name who could be a potential fit for the Mets, and that’s none other than Japanese star Munetaka Murakami, who can play first and third base.
According to Jon Heyman of the New York Post, the Mets are one of the early landing spots for the 25-year-old.
“Power is undeniable (17 HR in 46 games, 56 HR in 2022) for the two-time Central League MVP, and he’s only 25. Mets, Yankees, Dodgers, Red Sox, Cubs, Mariners, Angels,” he wrote.
Murakami will eventually make his way to Major League Baseball, barring something happening, but according to Jeff Passan of ESPN, that might not be this winter.
MORE: Pete Alonso could make the jump to the AL in insider’s latest prediction
Passan noted that Murakami wants to play in Major League Baseball, but it depends on what teams in the NPB decide to do. They have to post players, and if Murakami isn’t one of them, the Mets would have to wait another year or so.
“The Japanese revolution in MLB is not slowing down, and another impressive group is expected to come stateside for the 2026 season.
“Right-hander Tatsuya Imai and a pair of slugging third basemen — Munetaka Murakami and Kazuma Okamoto — hope to play in MLB, according to sources, though their doing so depends on their Nippon Professional Baseball teams’ willingness to enter them into the posting system that serves as a conduit to the big leagues for those NPB players who have yet to play the nine years necessary for international free agency,” he wrote.
