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.
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