The New York Mets have some key players hitting the open market, but perhaps none more important than Pete Alonso. The five-time All-Star opted out of his contract and is on the open market.
Alonso is reportedly looking for a seven-year deal. He searched for a long-term deal last winter, but clearly did not find one he liked. The Mets brought him back, but now his price tag has only gotten higher. Alonso raised his batting average by 32 points and hit even more home runs this year.
He is a huge part of the Mets’ offense, but is David Stearns willing to commit to an aging power hitter? According to MLB insider Ken Rosenthal, he is not.
“Father time is undefeated, and that’s the reason why the Mets are going to be reluctant to sign Alonso into his mid and late thirties,” Rosenthal said on “Fair Territory.” “This was the problem last offseason as well. Alonso is an extremely productive player coming off a great year. I expect he is going to do better than he did last year with no qualifying offer. Will it be the Mets? I don’t think it will be the Mets. I have never gotten the impression that President of Baseball Operations David Stearns wants Alonso long-term.”
The Mets had a chance to give Alonso a long-term deal last offseason when his price was at a low. However, the team was unwilling to do so then, which means they may still be unwilling now that he is projected to sign for even more.
Stearns has already noted his desire to improve the Mets’ defense this offseason. Alonso is not an elite defender, and signing an aging power-hitter may not align with Stearns’ goals.
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