If you're a New York Mets fan, the biggest worry you have right now is the future of slugger Pete Alonso. The superstar first baseman will hit free agency this offseason, and while he's expressed his desire to stay with the Mets, it feels likely he hits the open market. Owner Steve Cohen even said that himself recently, but there is optimism he will re-sign.
But could the Mets do the unthinkable and avoid all of the drama surrounding a Scott Boras-led Alonso negotiation and trade the slugger midseason? It's not out of the question, according to Jon Heyman of The New York Post:
“Mets fans love him, and might revolt (at least initially), and word is so does owner Steve Cohen. But since the Mets strongly considered an Alonso deal last summer and the Cubs are known to like him (and may need him), it can’t be completely ruled out if they fall out of it. Probably a long shot.”
A report last fall suggested the Cubs want to trade for the Mets star. And a recent report stated that Alonso is interested in going to Chicago. Heyman also said this January that he believes the Cubs will pursue Alonso if he enters free agency.
While it seems crazy to imagining the Mets moving on from Alonso, if they do fall out of the NL East race, there could be a certain logic to resetting with the inevitable return of prospects that a deal with the Cubs would provide.
It will be an interesting summer in New York to say the least. The Mets are currently 18-18, seven games behind the first-place Philadelphia Phillies in the National League East.
Pete Alonso is the Mets' biggest bat and wants the contract to match
Alonso is hitting for power once again in the middle of the Mets' lineup this season. In 36 games, the slugging first baseman has nine home runs and just hit the 200th of his five-plus-year career late last month.
Alonso may be hitting them out of the park, but his average continues to dip for a second-straight season. After hitting .261 over his first three years, Alonso batted .217 last season and is down to .212 so far in 2024.
The record for a first baseman in average annual value is Freddie Freeman's $27 million, while the largest total value was Matt Olson's $168 million. Alonso is 29, three years younger than Freeman was when he signed and is a more established star than Olson was when he inked his extension with the Atlanta Braves.
There's no guarantee a first baseman will break the $200 million barrier in the near future, but Alonso is the first candidate. It will almost certainly be the initial benchmark Alonso and Scott Boras, who Alonso hired as his agent just this past October, will be looking to clear in their negotiations with the Mets and any other interested parties.
Alonso and the Mets kick off their weekend series with the Atlanta Braves on Friday.
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