Mets add forgotten Cubs first baseman in attempt to create infield depth

With Pete Alonso still out on the open market, the New York Mets, if nothing else, ensured they'll have someone with first base experience in big-league camp next spring, signing former Chicago Cubs 15th-round pick Jared Young to an MLB deal on Monday.

If Young broke camp as the team's Opening Day first baseman, David Stearns and Steve Cohen would face some serious questions from the fanbase, but that seems unlikely to be the case. The team has maintained its continued interest in a reunion with Alonso, even after giving Juan Soto the largest free-agent deal ever: a 15-year pact in excess of $800 million.

The Cubs drafted Young, 29, out of Old Dominion back in 2017 and he made his MLB debut with the team in 2022 as the feel-good Frank Schwindel story went up in flames and David Ross ran players through a revolving door at first place looking for an answer. He got just 22 plate appearances, but held his own, collecting five hits - including two doubles - and drawing three walks.

He saw limited action the following year with the Cubs, as well, appearing in 16 games, but spent most of the year at Triple-A, where he torched opposing pitching to the tune of a .310/.417/.577 in 376 trips to the plate. St. Louis claimed him off waivers that November, but he actually spent the 2024 in Korea, playing for the Doosan Bears and putting up some gaudy numbers in the KBO.

Young slashed .326/.420/.660 in 169 plate appearances, which ultimately helped him get another bite at the big-league apple. He's always handled minor-league pitching well, especially at the Triple-A level (.852 OPS in nearly 1,300 plate appearances) but has never gotten a real chance to see if he can stick in The Show. Hopefully he gets that opportunity as a bench piece in Queens with the Mets next season.