Pete Alonso continues to be on the free agent market, regardless of pleas from Mets followers for the staff to re-sign the primary baseman. Now that the Mets have signed star outfielder Juan Soto, followers are hoping their subsequent vacation reward would be the Polar Bear.
“I hope so,” mentioned SNY analyst and former Mets first baseman Todd Zeile throughout the staff’s annual children vacation celebration earlier this month. “When Soto went off the board, you thought, ‘OK, that might start opening up some conversations with other free agents. As other guys are coming off the board, I think the best option is to have Pete back at first base. I think there’s certainly an objective to have that…
“Santa knows a few things, but I know the answer to that. We’ll have to wait and see.”
A marketplace for Alonso has been sluggish to type, however to be truthful, the place participant market continues to be shifting at a glacial tempo. It’s a very good 12 months to be a free agent pitcher, however not a place participant.
The Mets have been open about their want to deliver the favored homegrown first baseman again to Queens, and different groups anticipate he’ll return to the one staff he’s ever referred to as properly. The Mets wish to gauge his market first, but it surely’s unclear what his market appears like and the way different groups view him. A five-year contract within the realm of $120 million might be the goal, however that’s simply hypothesis.
There’s a lot to love, however loads to query as properly.
Alonso handles the New York highlight higher than most. He’s gregarious, participating, prides himself on being part of the group and, after all, hits numerous residence runs, particularly in large moments. He’s coming off two down seasons, however he nonetheless hit 46 homers in 2023 and 34 final season.
The Mets acquired their large bopper with Soto, however Alonso would supply safety and size within the lineup. He brings sturdiness, having performed 162 video games final 12 months at age 29, and management. Individuals gravitate towards Alonso within the clubhouse. Teammates respect his newbie standup comedy acts on the staff bus and his eclectic outfits as a lot as his well timed residence runs. Alonso even discovered Spanish to have the ability to higher talk with Latin gamers of their native language.
Alonso reveals up within the largest moments, like when he hit a ninth-inning residence run in Sport 3 of the NL Wild Card sequence towards the Milwaukee Brewers.
However his manufacturing has declined over the past two years. He hits and throws right-handed and whereas he’s a fantastic defender, he’s not precisely a Gold Glover. He could make some robust picks, however his minus-9 Out Above Common final season doesn’t paint essentially the most sure-handed image.
Two years of regression earlier than age 30 actually invitations some skepticism. Alonso isn’t hitting the low slider like he used to.
The Mets may pivot away from him by signing third baseman Alex Bregman and shifting Mark Vientos to 3rd base, however there doesn’t look like a lot curiosity in that plan. It nonetheless makes essentially the most sense for Alonso to return to the staff that drafted and developed him, however with 10 different free agent first baseman and some made obtainable by way of trades, it’s slightly crowded proper now.
Perhaps Santa Clause will ship Alonso. Or, perhaps followers will begin asking St. Nick for another person as an alternative.
Initially Revealed: January 1, 2025 at 8:00 AM EST
