At this afternoon’s presser to introduce Juan Soto, Mets proprietor Steve Cohen mentioned the crew is “nonetheless engaged” with Pete Alonso (hyperlink through Tim Britton and Will Sammon of the Athletic). That comes a number of days after baseball operations president David Stearns mentioned on the Winter Conferences that the crew would “like to carry Pete again.”
There hasn’t been a lot public chatter about Alonso’s free company. Jon Heyman of the New York Put up wrote final evening that Alonso would have curiosity in becoming a member of the Yankees if the Mets don’t make a critical push to retain him. Ties between the Yanks and Alonso have been pretty unfastened, although, as reviews have solid them as stronger suitors for Christian Walker. Past the New York groups, chatter in regards to the Alonso market has been speculative. The Nationals and Giants are among the many groups that might use an impression bat at first base, however there’s no agency indication they’ve been concerned.
Alonso declined a qualifying provide final month. Except for the Mets, each crew would forfeit draft picks and/or worldwide signing bonus house so as to add him. The Mets would relinquish the fitting to obtain a compensatory choose, however that’d solely come after the fourth spherical if he walked. It’s a minimal barrier.
The slugger is coming off a relative down 12 months. Alonso hit .240/.329/.459, the primary time in his profession he’s had an OPS under .800. His 34 residence runs is a private low over a full season. It’s not a super time for his manufacturing to dip, however there’s apparent worth in a participant whose flooring is a 30+ homer displaying. Alonso has been extremely sturdy and began 160 video games this previous season. He heated up within the postseason, hitting .273/.431/.568 with 4 homers over 13 video games.
As MLBTR explored in a put up for Entrance Workplace subscribers final month, Alonso is a tough free agent to worth. His popularity may lead his camp to hunt a deal approaching or topping Matt Olson ($168MM) and Freddie Freeman ($162MM with deferrals). Entrance places of work have more and more devalued this common profile, although. Alonso has restricted defensive and baserunning worth, whereas his common and on-base share are middling.
Stearns most well-liked to not make investments closely at first base throughout his time main baseball operations with the Brewers. Milwaukee ran payrolls that have been a fraction of what the Mets do beneath Cohen, after all, in order that’s not essentially a sign of how Stearns will function in Queens. Even after paying Soto a file $51MM common annual worth, New York has an estimated luxurious tax payroll round $252MM (through RosterResource). That’ll most likely find yourself north of $300MM by the top of the offseason. They might definitely accommodate Alonso financially. New York additionally wants so as to add no less than one starter and can most likely deepen the bullpen through one other acquisition or two.
