The stars seem to be aligning for Pete Alonso and the New York Mets.
In recent days, several top first baseman options have been signed or traded, including Christian Walker to the Astros, Paul Goldschmidt to the Yankees, Carlos Santana to the Guardians, Josh Naylor to the Diamondbacks, and Nathaniel Lowe to the Nationals.
Additionally, the Mets made a significant move by re-signing breakout left-handed starter Sean Manaea to a three-year, $75 million deal early Monday morning. According to MLB insider Jim Bowden of The Athletic, this series of events may position the Mets to finalize a deal with Alonso soon.
“Now the Mets can focus on bringing Pete Alonso back as their final major move of the offseason,” Bowden noted. “With his market shrinking, a deal could happen sooner rather than later.”
Alonso’s free agency has been slow to develop for several reasons. Many teams are reportedly reluctant to offer a long-term contract to a 30-year-old power-hitting first baseman, preferring short-term deals or pursuing trades to fill the position.
However, both Alonso and the Mets have expressed a desire to remain together. The Mets have kept in touch with Alonso, who has been exploring his market value.
There is also a deep connection between Alonso and the Mets, as he is a homegrown star who has been a cornerstone of the franchise since his MLB debut in 2019. During this time, he has hit the second-most home runs in baseball (226), trailing only Aaron Judge.
In 2023, Alonso turned down a seven-year, $158 million extension from the Mets, but he was represented by a different agent at the time. Now represented by Scott Boras and the Boras Corporation, who recently negotiated the richest contract in sports history with Mets owner Steve Cohen for Juan Soto, Alonso is in a stronger position to secure a new deal.
If the Mets can’t re-sign Alonso, they could target third baseman Alex Bregman and move Mark Vientos to first base. But for now, bringing back Alonso appears to be the final major item on the Mets’ offseason agenda.