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The signing of Juan Soto to a historic 15-year, $765 million deal had many expecting the Mets to move on from Pete Alonso.
That may not be the case as the New York Post’s Mike Puma reported the team remains engaged with Alonso, indicating it has not given up hope that they can convince the slugger to stay put in Queens and at first base.
“We think he is a great bat, and we’re still engaged. We hope he stays,” Mets owner Steve Cohen said. The billionaire also suggested Alonso go out and test the market.
If he does, the 2019 Rookie of the Year and two-time Home Run Derby champ will likely find suitors. The across-town Yankees suddenly need a first baseman after allowing Anthony Rizzo to walk in free agency and the Seattle Mariners could use an upgrade at the position and in their lineup.
If the Mets opt to bring Alonso back, there is no guarantee they need to do so as a positional player. With two young players in Mark Vientos and Brett Baty in the organization, switching one to first base and keeping the other at third would be an option, while Alonso would then fill the DH position, which no one player ever solidified as their own in 2024.
Alonso had his fewest RBI and second-most strikeouts in 2024, but still managed to blast 34 home runs and score 91 runs, making him a valuable asset for teams looking to upgrade their offense.
If the Mets genuinely want a reunion with Alonso and are not simply talking a big game to avoid backlash from fans, it will likely have to pony up the cash to keep a guy who has been one of the most popular stars on the team since his arrival five years ago.
Prediction: Alonso stays in New York, but as the first baseman for the Yankees
