Mets Planning to Move On Without Pete Alonso

It appears that Pete Alonso's days in a Mets uniform are indeed over. 

While the 30-year old first baseman has not signed a contract with a team, he remains a free agent, the Mets have been unable to come to terms on a long term deal with the slugger; both sides reportedly "far apart" in contract talks that stretch back as far as June of 2023. 

For the fans its a harsh slap in the face. The perception many have of the Mets under Steve Cohen is of a team with unlimited amounts of money. Hence what happens when a team is owned by the richest man in baseball, and has spent not only millions, but a billion dollars on free agents since taking over the team. 

His latest foray into free agency landed Juan Soto at the beginning of the Hot Stove season this year. Since that time, the Mets have gone into virtual hibernation. 

While we have had to sit back and watch the Giants play listless football, and the Jets fall apart at the seams with head coach and GM firings and stories about Madden ratings, the Mets have been engaged in a tug of war if you will with Alonso. 

Back in 2023, before hiring Scott Boras as his agent, Alonso turned down a lucrative, seven-year $158 million deal from the Mets, in hopes of cashing in big in free agency. 

That hasn't worked at all for Alonso. The first base market never developed this winter. Paul Goldschmidt got a short term deal with the Yankees; Christian Walker a three-year deal in Houston; Carlos Santana got a one-year deal to return to Cleveland. Josh Bell got a one-year deal with Washington. 

If Alonso was hoping for someone to cash in on a $25 million a year contract, he was greatly mistaken. At the same time suitors are shrinking as well. 

That's why it seemed possible that a Mets-Alonso reunion could happen. It never did. 

According to Jon Heyman the Mets offered a three-year, $70 million deal that was rejected by Alonso.  This days after Alonso's camp had come to the Mets with a three-year, high average deal with opt outs. 

The Mets felt time was running out and even asked Alonso's team to give them something soon. 

Now New York is expected to pivot. And they need to hit it out of the park or else. 

The Mets have been linked to a potential trade for Blue Jays slugger Vlad Guerrero Jr., but there is no telling if Toronto is willing to part ways with the free-agent to be just yet. You see there is speculation that the Jays might be in on the Alonso sweepstakes themselves, and might want to pair Alonso and Guerrero in the lineup for a year. 

Guerrero Jr. would be an improvement over Alonso in many ways. 

While he is a lumbering 245 pounds, Guerrero is only 25 years old, and hit .323 last year for Toronto. He saw his strikeouts dip each of the past two years, and has been a 30+ home run guy each of the last four years. 

Not to mention he has a .991 fielding percentage at first base, and can play third too. 

Alonso has seen his skill-set decline the past couple of years. He had his worst RBI year of his career in 2024, driving in only 88 runs, and his strikeout rate has been skyrocketing every year since 2021. Last season Alonso struck out 172 times (which isn't even his career high). He also hit only .217 in 2023, and .240 last year. 

While Alonso is a good first baseman, he's not as fleet a foot as Guerrero is. 

Still he's a home grown Met, and had a postseason to remember last year. His homer against Milwaukee in the wild card round will be a memory that lasts forever. However, the Mets are taking a long rang approach on a hitter who appears on the decline at 30. 

Obviously acquiring Guerrero now would be a pipe dream. The Mets would have to be willing to give up a lot, and they would need to get Guerrero to agree to a long term deal, something the Yankees failed to do with Juan Soto. 

Instead the Mets might have to paste it together and hope for the best. Moving Mark Vientos to first is now an option. Brett Baty at third base now comes into play too. They could go out and sign slugger Anthony Santandar -- who knows? Or trade for San Diego slugger Luis Arraez; again it depends on the package. 

Re-signing Jesse Winker to a one-year deal helps. He can play a little first base, but he's not Alonso. 

What's disappointing is the Mets are heading into the season with no protection for Soto and Lindor in the lineup. 

For a team owned by the richest man in baseball that in itself is a crime.

Jets Choice for Coach Could be Between Aaron Glenn or Brian Flores

 We still got a long way to go in the Head Coach and GM search for the New York Jets, but it is starting to feel more and more likely that the Jets could wind up with either Detroit Lions Defensive Coordinator Aaron Glenn or Minnesota Vikings Defensive Coordinator Brian Flores as head coach. 

It has been speculated for days that this could be the case. 

Rich Cimini of ESPN speculated over the weekend that Flores could be a packaged deal with controversial former Colts GM Ryan Grigson, but then backed off that claim on a podcast with Will Parkinson on Monday. 

Still Flores is going to be a name to watch. His Vikings defense was really good this year until the final two weeks of the year when the Vikings got shellacked by the Lions in Week 18 and by the LA Rams on Monday night in the wild card game. 

 

Flores also has a lot of detractors. Many felt he lacked people skills in Miami his first time around as a Head Coach. Plus there was the whole lawsuit against the NFL for discrimination. He says he's changed, and many around him say he has. We shall see. 

 Glenn is a former Jet, and a very popular choice among many in the fanbase. He has done an oustanding job leading the Lions defense this year, and is seen as a favorite for either the Jets job or New Orleans Saints job. 

Keep in mind, following Mike McCarthy's exit from the Dallas Cowboys on Monday, there is a chance the Saints could go in on McCarthy, which might play into the a Glenn-Jets marriage.  We shall see. 

How Mike McCarthy's Departure from Dallas Could Affect the NFL

 Mike McCarthy is a free agent. The former Super Bowl winning Head Coach of the Green Bay Packers couldn't come to terms on a new contract with the Dallas Cowboys, and as a result he is free to find employment elsewhere. 

 

His presence in the market is surely going to shake things up. 

Check out my story on Fox Sports Radio New Jersey.

Giants Retain Both Brian Daboll and Joe Schoen for 2025 Season

 Giants Head Coach Brian Daboll will return next season along with General Manager Joe Schoen. The decision was made official by co-owner John Mara in the early hours Monday morning.

It comes as really no surprise, despite a 3-14 record in 2024, that both Daboll and Schoen return; it had been speculated for days that Mara wanted to keep the duo another year.

“I met with Joe Schoen and Brian Daboll Friday afternoon for several hours. Staying with both of them is the best course for us right now. Brian was coach of the year two years ago. I still believe he can do that. 

"As for Joe, I thought we had an outstanding draft this year, and I like the staff he has built. I understand completely this won’t be the popular decision in Giant-land, but I believe it is the right decision going forward,” Mara told reporters on Monday.

Since the Giants playoff run in 2022, Big Blue has gone 9-25 under the Schoen/Daboll administration the past two seasons. The 2024 season was pockmarked by the departure of star running back Saquon Barkley who left via free agency to Philadelphia. 

 Barkley’s free agency became the subject of HBO’s Hard Knocks Off-season, which many felt put Schoen, Daboll and the Giants in a bad light. 

 

Moreover, the Giants have a gaping hole at quarterback. They committed to Daniel Jones following his stellar campaign in 2022, but he never recaptured that magic. Ultimately Jones requested and was granted his release at mid season this year. Mara acknowledged that finding a quarterback will be paramount this off-season.

“I didn’t want to fall into that cycle again,” Mara said of going through another GM and Coach search. “I wanted to give people a chance to build this thing the right way,” Mara said. “Based on my observation of how they work together, and how the players respond to them, and how Joe is building the roster going forward, it is my strong belief we will go in the right direction.”

Jets End 2024 Season with More Questions Than Answers

The New York Jets 2024 season ended Sunday almost the same way it started, with lots of flash, and nothing but questions and confusion afterward. The Jets won their season finale 32-20 over the Miami Dolphins, and Aaron Rodgers threw four touchdowns, which gave the Hall of Famer 502 touchdown passes in his career, in what could be his final game with Gang Green; perhaps even as a pro football player.

But, the aura of ‘what’s next’ hung over MetLife Stadium like a thick fog. 

Getty Images.

 

Questions abound about the future of Rodgers, who could either retire or opt to return in 2025. And should he choose to play again next season, it likely won’t be in New York.

Questions also abound about who will coach the team, and who will be the General Manager of the team moving forward.

With each touchdown that Rodgers threw, his smile grew wider, and one could see in his eyes and the eyes of his teammates they were all very reflective. They were enjoying the moment together in a lost season. 

Whether Rodgers returns or not is ultimately up to owner Woody Johnson, despite what he might say in the New York Post, where he indicated that it would be the new coach and GM. 

And speaking of the GM and coach search, it's going to be extensive. Lions Defensive Coordinator Aaron Glenn; former Jets coach Rex Ryan; Steelers Offensive Coordinator Arthur Smith; Chiefs Offensive Coordinator Matt Nagy; 49ers QB coach Brian Griese; Vikings Defensive Coordinator Brian Flores, and Vikings QB coach Josh McCown name just a few of the candidates the Jets for Head Coach. 

 The Jets are also looking to interview Chiefs Assistant GM Mike Borgonzi and former Colts GM Ryan Grigson for their vacant General Manager spot. 

Buckle up folks. 

Giants' John Mara "Desires" to Keep Brian Daboll in 2025

 Despite reports on Saturday to the contrary, there is a belief in many circles that Giants co-owner John Mara wishes to keep Brian Daboll as Head Coach for the 2025 season. 

As was reported by CBS' Jonathan Jones, and later by Giants Wire on USA Today, the Giants would like to avoid yet another coaching search, and that the owner has been very much aware of key decisions within the organization.  Just look back at Hard Knocks last Spring when Mara was seen consistently in Joe Schoen's office discussing Saquon Barkley's future. 

If true, one can understands this. The Giants have been a revolving door over the past decade at Head Coach. Following Tom Coughlin's departure in 2015, the Giants have had four different full time head coaches (five if you count Steve Spagnuolo's four games as interim Head Coach in 2017).  

Each of them: Ben McAdoo, Pat Shurmur and Joe Judge each lasted only two seasons in New York. This is year three for Daboll, who was the AP Coach of the Year two-seasons ago in 2022 when the Giants made a shocking run to the divisional round of the playoffs. 

"There’s a belief Mara may not feel he’s assured of getting a better coach than Daboll, the 2022 NFL Coach of the Year. Daboll is considered one of the best quarterback coaches in the league, and Big Blue is certain to have a new quarterback on the roster next year" (GIANTS WIRE).

No doubt there needs to be improvement with the G-Men. Nine wins and 24 losses the past two years is unacceptable under any circumstance, and it's not like Daboll is alone to blame. A lot of blame can be directed all around from ownership on down to Schoen at GM. They decided as a group to let Saquon Barkley walk, which he did ultimately to Philadelphia where he ran for 2,005 yards this year. 

They also gave Daniel Jones a monster four year deal, which he never completed as he was outright released at mid-season. 

The Giants need to get the quarterback right in 2025. They will have a top 10 pick no matter what happens in Week 18 on Sunday. While this draft is not quarterback heavy, there is always the chance someone drops, or they could try to orchestrate a trade.  

Minnesota's rookie quarterback J.J. McCarthy is a name to keep an eye on if the Vikings do indeed extend or franchise tag Sam Darnold. 

So while nothing is certain, it appears there is a lean toward Daboll returning for next season.