Pete Alonso’s path to returning to the New York Mets simply retains getting extra sophisticated.
Talks between the four-time All-Star and the Mets appeared to hit a wall final week. Will Sammon of The Athletic reported that staff proprietor Steve Cohen referred to as negotiations with Alonso and agent Scott Boras “exhausting.” Cohen mentioned not solely had the Mets made a major supply to Alonso, however he additionally didn’t just like the contract buildings being despatched again.
In accordance with WFAN’s Evan Roberts on the “Rico Brogna Podcast,” Boras is presenting contracts the place, ought to Alonso decide out, the Mets would owe him extra money. Cohen’s assertion that the negotiations are “uneven in opposition to [the Mets]” turns into all of the extra comprehensible.
Studies had surfaced in mid-January that Alonso had offered the Mets a three-year cope with opt-outs, with the Mets being the one staff to obtain that contract construction. Likewise, Sammon and Ken Rosenthal had reported that Alonso’s market was heating up, with the Blue Jays and an unidentified third staff becoming a member of the Mets in contract talks.
A number of components are working in opposition to Alonso in free company. He’s not very athletic and with out the positional flexibility groups like as he’s tied to first base. Alonso is coming off of a pair of comparatively disappointing seasons, posting a .229/.324/.480 batting line with 80 homers in his 1,353 plate appearances between 2023 and 2024. His OPS has dropped for 3 consecutive years, and his 34 homers in 2024 had been the fewest Alonso had hit over a full season.
Negotiations didn’t must get up to now. The Mets had offered Alonso a seven-year, $158M extension in 2023, which the primary baseman turned down. As negotiations drag out and Alonso stays available on the market, that call appears worse. His reported calls for do not make his market transfer any sooner.
