It doesn’t seem like the New York Mets are in any rush to keep Pete Alonso around — at least not for the kind of money he’s expecting. That alone says a lot. Alonso has been the face of their lineup for years, a homegrown slugger who’s given the fan base something to rally behind through chaos and change. But sentiment doesn’t pay the bills, and it sounds like the front office is starting to think about the long game.

If the Mets truly intend to shift their identity toward run prevention and defensive balance, it might be time to look elsewhere at first base. And one name that fits the bill surprisingly well is Josh Naylor.

Josh Naylor checks multiple boxes the Mets care about

Naylor, 28, is hitting free agency after splitting last season between the Arizona Diamondbacks and Seattle Mar

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