Pete Alonso rejects Mets latest offer, talks have broken down
Meanwhile, Jesse Winker returns to the Mets on a one-year deal
What’s up with the Mets? 🍎
Pete Alonso rejected a three-year counter-proposal from the Mets in the $68-70 million range, and now the club is pivoting away from him - talks have broken down between the two sides (New York Post)
Brett Baty, Ronny Mauricio, and Luisangel Acuña could become more crucial to the infield should Alonso sign elsewhere (New York Post)
The Mets have reportedly re-signed Jesse Winker for one year, $8 million (story)
The organization is renaming their visiting clubhouse in honor of Tony Carullo who worked for the team for 51 years (Official)
The Mets released their 2025 promotional schedule (Official)
Rumor Mill 💨
The Blue Jays are reportedly seeking a package for Vladimir Guerrero Jr. that goes beyond what the Padres got for Juan Soto (SNY)
Talks on an extension between Guerrero and the Blue Jays are expected to ramp up before his self-imposed deadline of February 17 (Athletic)
Toronto is one of the teams interested in signing Pete Alonso (SNY)
Alex Bregman is still seeking a long-term deal in free agency (USA Today)
The Mets and Pete Alonso are playing a frustrating game of chicken… ✍️
Mets fans had little time to celebrate the return of Jesse Winker before the leaks and rumors started swirling about Pete Alonso, which caused some severe whiplash.
It all started with a report from SNY that said the Winker signing was a pivot away from Alonso.
It snowballed from there with more reports coming out about the Mets’ final offer to Alonso which was reportedly for three years and between $68-70 million - which he rejected - and how they envision the rest of their offseason and the holes they need filled before the 2025 season starts.
Now, on the surface, the argument that Winker is a pivot away from Alonso does not make much sense. The team desperately needed a left-handed bench bat whether they sign Alonso or not, and Winker fills that need. He has never played first base and will primarily serve as a DH, so it seems odd that this signing is being reported as the death of the relationship between Alonso and the Mets.
While it may be true the Mets and Alonso may eventually not come together, could it be a negotiating tactic to get Alonso/Boras to relent?
The Mets under David Stearns are much more buttoned up when it comes to leaking information to the press, but who stands to gain from these rumors coming out in the press at this particular time? It could be a scare tactic on the Mets’ part to hint to Scott Boras and Alonso that they are ready to move on, which could motivate them into meeting the Mets at the deal the team offered instead of the deal they were seeking.
Unfortunately, while it is hard to figure out what to believe with all the rumors swirling, it does seem that the Mets and Alonso are at an impasse. There are no villains here, with the Mets needing an answer so they can plan out the rest of their offseason and with the first baseman wanting to get the best deal for himself. The two sides are clearly valuing one another differently without a lot of common ground.
It’s just a shame that it has now come to this, where every rumor is scrutinized, and moves can’t be seen without the Alonso lens coloring it.
Whether or not Alonso returns, it is a bit hard to swallow that the team is seriously considering Mark Vientos moving to first base and having Brett Baty, Ronny Mauricio, and Luisangel Acuña compete for the third base spot. Baty has shown very little success at the major league level, Mauricio is coming off ACL surgery and might not be healthy for spring training, and while Acuña held his own filling in for Francisco Lindor in September, more needs to be seen from the youngster before he is handed a starting job. All three are very risky options and not ones a team with World Series aspirations should be taking.
Also - if anyone thinks the Mets are better with an inexperienced Vientos at first base, think again. So if Alonso walks, they’re going to have - at a minimum - holes at both corner infield positions defensively.
As such, if Alonso does in fact depart, the Mets probably won’t go into camp with the currently constructed infield. They can’t, and they know that.
The offseason is not over and nothing is set in stone until contracts are signed but both Stearns and Alonso have some decisions to make. Time is running out and patience is wearing thin.
Around the League 🚩
Beloved Hall of Fame broadcaster and voice of the Brewers Bob Uecker passed away at the age of 90 (Athletic)
The Cubs and OF Kyle Tucker avoided arbitration and agreed to a $16.5 million contract
The Blue Jays still prefer to sign Vladimir Guerrero Jr. rather than trade their star (Heyman)
This is heading for the worst-case scenario on both sides. Pete is going to sitting at home without a team as spring training starts, reflecting on a series of bad decisions on his part. For the Mets, they will end up fielding players out of their natural positions and without a power bat to protect Soto, because they played too hard ball. Both sides need to pull their heads out of their behinds.
This is what's bugging me about the whole thing. Pete turned down seven years and $158 million (which was basically six years at $135 million, but leave that aside for now) for an annual AAV of $22.57 million. He probably could have gotten it bumped to $168 million to round off the AAV to a neat $24 million.
Compared to Freeman's production, that's a really fair deal. But after taking a pass on it and gambling on having a big year -- and not only missing, but sliding for the third year in a row -- now Pete's camp is talking Miggy Cabrera money? Seriously?
I just don't get the negotiating strategy here.