Pete Alonso deserves to be a forever Met, but a decision is needed ASAP
Plus, David Wright speaks about his jersey retirement and the Mets hand out a couple of minor league deals...
What’s up with the Mets? 🍎
Free agent 1B Pete Alonso is reportedly looking for a six-year deal, and it is currently a “coin flip” if Alonso is back with the Mets in time for Opening Day (SNY)
The Mets signed OF Travis Swaggerty and INF Yonny Hernández to minor league deals on Wednesday (MMO)
The Mets also announced that they had re-signed RHP Brian Metoyer, who spent the 2023 and 2024 seasons on the injured list
David Wright, who spoke about having his jersey retired by the Mets, also confirmed that he will be back in Port St. Lucie for a few days during spring training this year (SNY)
SS Francisco Lindor and RHP Edwin Díaz were in attendance at the El Dream HR Derby & Celebrity Softball Game in Puerto Rico (MLB)
Rumor Mill 💨
LHP Garrett Crochet and the Red Sox have already had some discussions about a long-term contract, but it is unclear if the two parties are close on a deal (MassLive)
The Red Sox have also checked in on RHP Phil Maton, who pitched to a 2.51 ERA with the Mets in 2024 (MassLive)
3B Nolan Arenado would be willing to waive his no-trade clause in order to facilitate a trade to the Red Sox (MLB.com)
The Pirates, in need of outfield help, have shown interest in free agent OF Randal Grichuk (MLB.com)
Mets need to draw a hard line on Pete Alonso saga and soon… ✍️
We’re more than a week into 2025, and Pete Alonso is still twisting out in the wind all by himself as a free agent.
As we get deeper and deeper into the offseason, a reunion between Alonso and the Mets remains as far away as ever.
In fact, you could argue that the odds of seeing Alonso back in Queens have been dwindling more and more by the day.
In the latest developments, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports that Alonso is looking for a six-year deal in free agency. Per SNY’s Andy Martino, both Alonso and the Mets remain far apart, and it is currently “truly a coin flip” if the slugging first baseman is wearing a Mets uniform on Opening Day.
All of these reports continue to be exhausting, as do the constant games that Scott Boras, Alonso’s agent, insists on playing in the media on a daily basis.
We’ve talked ad nauseam in this very newsletter about why the Mets remain the perfect fit for Alonso. And that remains true today. However, with pitchers and catchers reporting in a matter of weeks— I know, 2025 is getting away from us already— the Mets may need to make a tough final decision on Alonso in the coming days and weeks.
It is clear that president of baseball operations David Stearns wants Alonso back, but at his price and on his terms. And that’s his right. It is also Alonso’s right to seek a six-year deal given everything he’s done for this franchise. You would think that the two sides could maybe find a sweet spot somewhere in the middle.
However, the longer this saga drags on, the more both sides will eventually lose out. Playing hardball too much could eventually frustrate Alonso to the point that he decides to go out and take a short-term deal elsewhere. That would not be a good look for the Mets at all.
On the other side of that, waiting too long to get a deal done with Alonso could prove to be counterproductive. If a contract still isn’t done by the time spring training opens up, and Alonso arrives at camp late, that could have dire consequences for the rest of the 2025 season. Just look at J.D. Martinez. He signed with the Mets late in 2024, and ended up missing the start of the regular season in order to ramp up. He then suffered body soreness because of the rapid ramp-up, missing even more time as a result. And, if that wasn’t enough, Martinez faded badly down the stretch and was a virtual non-factor in the playoffs. You could put that burnout down to not really having much of a spring training.
Is it really wise to go through a similar ordeal with Alonso? Especially considering how important he’s going to be in that lineup?
After all, the four-time All-Star is 30-year-old masher who relies on power. He’s going to need every single day of spring training to lock in, get his reps in, and prepare his body for a grueling 162-game regular season.
Missing even a couple of weeks of spring training could lead to a slow start for Alonso, which could end up impacting him and the team for the rest of the year. We already know the offense— particularly Juan Soto and Francisco Lindor— will need to carry this lineup in 2025 given the slew of question marks surrounding the pitching. Plus, the Mets need Alonso in order to lengthen and deepen that lineup, as well as offering much-needed protection for Soto.
At this point, if the Mets really want to bring Alonso back, they just need to strap on their big boy pants and hammer out a deal before any more damage is done. Even if it is a short-term deal. Alonso deserves to be a forever Met, there is a real need for him on this roster, and cooler and smarter heads need to prevail in order for this nonsensical saga to end.
Pete Alonso’s future has to be decided by the time we reach February. It just does. Period.
Around the League 🚩
Marlins LHP Braxton Garrett will miss the 2025 season after undergoing a left elbow UCL revision surgery with an internal brace in December
Free agent LHP Martín Pérez and the White Sox are in agreement on a one-year, $5 million deal (FanSided)
The A’s signed OF Brent Rooker to a five-year, $60 million deal with a club/vesting option for 2030
Former Met Amed Rosario agreed to terms on a one-year, $2 million deal with the Nationals on Wednesday (MLB.com)
If the offer of 3 for 90 is true, that makes him the highest paid 1st sacker I think. The player needs to control his agent, not the agent controlling the player
In many ways Pete Alonso deserves to be a lifetime Met. However, just because he's a home grown talent and a fan favorite does not mean he and Boras can bend Stern over a barrel. The Mets, Stern, have given Alonso many offers and opportunities to sign a fair contract. I agree a decision needs to be made sooner than later. At first I was all about signing him but at this point I'm content with moving on from Pete. And realistically, a one dimensional player (home run or strike out), Pete would not offer much protection for Soto or lengthen out the roster.