Mark Vientos remains a player frequently mentioned in trade rumors. As the New York Mets finalize their roster, it raises the question of whether another significant deal could still be on the horizon. The Mets have already been among the most aggressive teams in Major League Baseball this season when it comes to improving their roster through trades.
In a recent mock trade, SI.com’s Ryan Shea projected that New York could pull off a blockbuster deal with the Houston Astros to acquire power-hitting star.
Mets-Astros Trade Lands Christian Walker in Queens
Here is the full breakdown of the hypothetical trade that Shea proposes:
Mets receive: Christian Walker, Astros receive: Mark Vientos, LHP Zach Thornton
“The Mets are entering the 2026 season with a critical gap at first base. With Pete Alonso leaving in free agency, the team lost their long-time anchor at the position, which leaves a hole in both the lineup and the field.”
According to Spotrac, Christian Walker is a top trade candidate across MLB, along with names like Fernando Tatis Jr, Tarik Skubal, Luis Severino, and Luis Castillo. Walker signed a three-year, $60 million deal with the Astros before the 2025 season, but it was somewhat of a down year for the first base slugger in his first season with the Stros.
Walker hit .238 with 27 home runs and 24 doubles, but struck out 177 times, which led to a noticeable dip in his OPS and wRC+. However, the Mets could certainly use that level of production at first base consistently with the departure of Alonso. The Mets signed Jorge Polanco this offseason, but it’s still unclear what his everyday role could be.
