SNY and other outlets have pointed out that the fact that five teams recently acquired new first basemen seemingly increases the likelihood that All-Star Pete Alonso will eventually return to the New York Mets.
However, The Athletic’s Will Sammon revealed on Monday that “there was no indication talks between the Mets and Alonso had picked up steam” ahead of Christmas and that “the sticking point” regarding the parties’ discussions “could be contract length.”
Along with ESPN’s Jeff Passan, unnamed executives shared last week that “teams are hesitant to give” Alonso a long-term contract because he’s a right-handed hitting and throwing first baseman who turned 30 years old earlier this month. While speaking with Sammon, one longtime American League scout suggested that the Mets and Alonso could ultimately need each other this offseason.
“Probably will take four years, but I would try to push for a higher annual average value over three years,” the scout said about how Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns could approach contract talks with Alonso’s camp. “If I feel he is a guy who puts us over the top, I easily give that fourth year.”
New York’s historic signing of superstar outfielder Juan Soto turned a club that made a surprising run to this year’s National League Championship Series into a win-now team. While much has been made about Alonso being a defensive liability, the StatMuse website shows that only New York Yankees captain Aaron Judge has hit more regular-season home runs (232) than Alonso (226) since 2019.
In short, the Mets’ lineup would undeniably be better in March 2025 with Alonso protecting Soto than without the “Polar Bear,” a fan favorite who has played only for the Amazins since his MLB debut in 2019.
“The conversation on Pete sometimes veers too much into what he doesn’t do,” one NL scout told Sammon, “but we should really give him credit for things he does do, too, like hit home runs because he does that at an elite level. And he should continue to.”
Stearns and Mets owner Steve Cohen are showing patience with Alonso’s market, which has not become what he hoped it would be a couple of months ago.
Last week, Mark Feinsand of the MLB website reported that Alonso “may have to wait until January or February to secure” the deal he wants. Still, Stearns and Cohen had better realize that many paying customers won’t react kindly if this waiting game results in the slugger signing elsewhere.
