New York Mets Could Poach All-Star Slugger from Hated Rival

The New York Mets won’t be signing Vladimir Guerrero Jr. next offseason, as the first baseman just inked a 14-year contract extension with the Toronto Blue Jays.

Now that Guerrero is off the table, who else can the Mets target to double down after snatching Juan Soto away from the New York Yankees over the winter?

Of course, the Mets can pursue some help between now and the trade deadline, but fans already have their eyes set on next year’s free-agent market, where Steve Cohen may once again spend big bucks.

Zachary Rotman of FanSided listed off a few names New York could potentially consider next winter, and he proposed that the Mets could try to steal Kyle Schwarber away from the Philadelphia Phillies.

“With how dynamic and imposing Schwarber is at the plate, why shouldn’t the Mets want him?” Rotman wrote. “Sure, he has limitations in terms of hitting for average, playing the field, and running the bases, but the DH spot exists. The Mets can simply use Schwarber in that spot just about every day as the Phillies have for much of his tenure there and watch him hit dingers.”

Schwarber signed with the Phillies ahead of the 2022 campaign and has been a menace for them at the dish, smashing over 40 home runs in each of his first two seasons before slashing .248/.366/.485 with 38 homers and 104 RBI across 692 plate appearances last year.

The 32-year-old has long been regarded as one of the best power hitters in baseball, and while he is only a lifetime .230 hitter, he more than compensates for it with his ability to draw walks (he led the National League with 106 walks in 2024) and, of course, his penchant for leaving the ballpark.

On top of that, Schwarber has hammered 21 long balls over 69 career playoff games, which ranks fourth all-time. He has also earned a pair of All-Star selections.

Because the former Chicago Cubs star is older and doesn’t really play the field, he could probably be had on an affordable short-term deal, and the Mets would be wise to jump all over the opportunity.