Free agent infielder Alec Bohm met with both the Yankees and Mets at this week’s general managers’ meetings in Las Vegas, according to reporting from Ken Rosenthal and Will Sammon of The Athletic. The connection to the Yankees was previously reported.
Rosenthal and Sammon specify that the Mets would be interested in Bohm at first base, which makes a lot of sense. For one thing, the Mets already have a third baseman in Bo Bichette, whereas first base is more open.
Bohm has played both corner spots but his glovework at third has never been highly regarded. In almost 6,000 career innings at third base, he has a grade of minus-58 from Defensive Runs Saved. From 2020 to the present, that’s the worst DRS mark of any third baseman and tied for second-worst of any player at any position. Jose Altuve’s minus-73 mark at second base is the only person beyond Bohm in that regard. Bohm’s minus-15 grade from Outs Above Average and minus-16 from Fielding Run Value aren’t quite as extreme but still subpar.
Due to his poor work at third, he has spent more time at first as his career has gone on. His defensive grades at first are also subpar but aren’t as bad, especially when focusing on more recent seasons. Bohm has a grade of minus-4 DRS at first in his career but was above average in both 2025 and 2026. He has minus-8 OAA and minus-7 FRV for his career but has been close to par over the past three campaigns.
Offensively, Bohm has been best with the platoon advantage. A right-handed hitter, he has a .273/.325/.410 line in his career overall. That translates to a 100 wRC+, or exactly league average production. Against southpaws, he has a .302/.351/.503 line and 130 wRC+, compared to a .262/.315/.372 line and 88 wRC+.
It’s a limited profile but one that could make sense for the Mets. Jared Young got most of the playing time at first in 2026 and hit .266/.330/.429 for a 111 wRC+. A lefty bat, Young had a .275/.339/.454 line and 120 wRC+ with the platoon advantage but a .228/.290/.316 slash and 72 wRC+ without. Platooning Young and Bohm could make for a nice first baseman in aggregate.
That may not be Bohm’s first choice, however. Though his defense at the hot corner has never been good, he is still one of the top options available in a weak free agent class. Teruaki Sato is out there but has no major league experience and some scouts question his ability to play a viable third base at the major league level. Jazz Chisholm Jr. is available but his previous dabbling at third base didn’t go especially well. J.P. Crawford is also out there but he doesn’t have huge experience at the position, as he was a full-time shortstop until a few months ago.
Even if Bohm can’t find a third base job and ends up at first base, he would presumably prefer to land an everyday gig as opposed to immediately settling for a platoon role. But even then, he’ll have competition. Jake Bauers and Ty France are available in free agency. The trade market potentially includes Rafael Devers, Spencer Torkelson, Christian Walker, Alec Burleson and more. Bohm might not be a top choice for many clubs because of his flaws but he at least has some buzz in the early days of the offseason.
Elsewhere in Mets news, Jon Heyman of The New York Post reports that they are one of the clubs interested in free agent reliever Jonathan Loáisiga. The right-hander was held back by injuries for much of the 2023 through 2025 seasons but is coming off a strong bounceback campaign with the Diamondbacks. He tossed 67 innings for the Snakes, averaging over 97 miles per hour with his four-seamer and sinker while also throwing a cutter, curveball and changeup. He posted a 2.42 earned run average. His 18.4% strikeout rate was subpar but his 5% walk rate and 56.4% ground ball were both excellent figures.
The bullpen figures to be a big focus for the Mets this winter. They traded away A.J. Minter, Huascar Brazobán, Luke Weaver and Brooks Raley at the deadline. Kodai Senga performed well in a relief role after those guys were gone but he is going to be stretched out as a starter in the spring. That leaves the Mets with a collection of relief options who are either not well established or coming off down years. They have already been connected to a number of lefties but should have arms of either handedness on their radar this winter.
Photo courtesy of Kyle Ross, Imagn Images
