Yordan Alvarez has long been one of the most talented players in baseball, but all that’s ever stood in his way is the injury bug. In 2026, however, he’s entered the year fully healthy, and so far, that’s allowed him to put his superstar skill set on full display.
The slugging outfielder leads the MLB in home runs and runs batted in, while also ranking in the top five in both batting average and hits. It’s been a dominant start from the three-time All-Star, though Alvarez raking at the dish hasn’t exactly led to team success for the Houston Astros, who at 9–16 sit dead last in the AL West.
As a result, questions are already being raised about a potential sell-off, with Alvarez as their most valuable trade chip. Almost every team in baseball would love to get its hands on such a talent; however, Zachary D. Rymer of Bleacher Report believes the number one landing spot to watch is the New York Mets.
“The goal now nonetheless needs to be twofold: make up ground and keep working on making this a true World Series-caliber team. To the latter end, a Soto-Alvarez pairing would rival any in MLB. And it wouldn’t just be a play for 2026, as the two of them would be guaranteed to stay together for at least two more seasons.
How Realistic Is It? At this point, the obvious question is whether the Mets will even be in a buying mood on the summer trading market. If they’re not, 2023 proves that Steve Cohen is fine with a rapid unscheduled disassembly. If the Mets are in a buying mood, however, money is no longer the Mets’ only advantage. David Stearns has done good work in the farm system, which notably features an attractive swing-and-miss arm belonging to Jonah Tong,”
The 28-year-old Alvarez is under contract through the 2028 campaign thanks to the six-year, $115 million deal he signed with the Astros in 2022. He is batting .330 with 10 HRs and 24 RBI through 25 games played this season.
Behind New York, Rymer had the Boston Red Sox, Cincinnati Reds, Detroit Tigers, and San Diego Padres rounding out the top five destinations for Alvarez.
It’s still extremely early in the season, but things are already looking bleak in Houston, with their pitching staff decimated by injuries. A turnaround remains possible, but if that doesn’t happen, expect more and more chatter around players like Alvarez potentially being on the move closer to the trade deadline.
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