The Mets need a Pete Alonso resolution

The Mets and Pete Alonso have been engaged in contract negotiations

What’s up with the Mets? 🍎

• LHP David Peterson worked with college tennis player Jett Middleton to take a creative round of PFP’s (New York Post)

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Rumor Mill 💨

• The Blue Jays showed ‘strong interest’ in Gleyber Torres prior to the infielder signing with Detroit earlier this week (Detroit Free Press)

• The Angels and Tigers are expressing interest in OF Anthony Santander (Detroit Free Press)

• The Dodgers are expected to discuss a contract extension with manager Dave Roberts this winter (LA Times)

• The Orioles and Blue Jays both discussed franchise record contracts with RHP Corbin Burnes before the veteran signed with Arizona (Nightengale)

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There needs to be a Pete Alonso resolution…✍️

Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

The uncertainty surrounding Pete Alonso’s status has become the topic dominating every conversation involving the Mets right now.

Nearly every legitimate baseball pundit expects the Polar Bear to ultimately return to Queens, as the match just makes too much sense not to happen.

The fact that it hasn’t happened yet is perplexing. So what’s the hold-up?

Last week it was reported that the Mets had offered Alonso $90 million over three years. That AAV would make him the highest-paid first baseman in baseball, and the short-term contract would mesh with what the Mets have clearly looked to do since David Stearns took over the front office.

Alonso understandably had aspirations of a lengthier and more lucrative commitment, but at what point does something have to give?

The first base market moved rampantly before Christmas in what felt like a game of musical chairs that concluded with one player and one team left staring at each other. And some of the deals that were signed were not necessarily good things for Alonso and his agent, Scott Boras.

Christian Walker was a fairly good comp for Alonso, and he signed in Houston for $60 million over three years. More recently, Teoscar Hernandez—while not a first baseman—re-signed in Los Angeles for three years and $66 million. Both players bring similar offensive skill sets, and Walker in particular is a better defender than Alonso.

At this point in the offseason, Christmas is in the rearview mirror, and New Year’s Eve is tomorrow. We’re just over a month from the time of year when players start reporting to spring training camp early. To put it bluntly, we’re reaching the part of the calendar when teams want to wrap up their major winter shopping and begin game planning with the team they’re going to have heading into the season.

There is no doubt that Alonso is the guy the Mets want playing first base. And in his heart of hearts, Alonso would like to remain in Queens. But his leverage in negotiations honestly feels nonexistent.

The Mets plan B would appear to be shifting Mark Vientos to first base and signing Alex Bregman to play third. Andrew wrote an excellent and thorough piece comparing Alonso and Bregman the other day.

But reading between the tea leaves, it seems like a given that Stearns and company will only pivot to that plan if it becomes official that Alonso isn’t coming back.

Back to the calendar though, Bregman has more potential suitors than Alonso, and he’s not going to wait forever.

The New York Post recently reported that the Mariners, Blue Jays, and Giants are all considering Alonso, which I took with a grain of salt. That could just be Scott Boras putting out some propaganda to try and pressure the Mets into jumping and trying to drive the price up on the Mets.

For starters, if Alonso is determined to land a longer deal than three years, that would seem counterintuitive to what Seattle’s offseason objective has been. The Giants play in a pitcher’s park that is not conducive to home runs—particularly for a right-handed hitter—and I have a hard time envisioning Alonso spending the second half of his career there. Toronto has a world-class first baseman under contract for 2025 already, and Alonso has never shown an inclination towards wanting to be a DH full-time.

So how is this situation going to resolve itself?

To me, I think the best play for Alonso is to eventually come to terms with the Mets. If they land on a short-term deal, he can perhaps push for an opt-out after 2025 or 2026. That would give him a chance to bet on himself having a big season hitting in the deep Mets lineup and try again next winter to land the type of deal he wants.

That has it’s fair share of risks associated with it as well.

He was the top free-agent first baseman available this offseason, and next year he’ll have Vladimir Guerrero Jr. ahead of him on teams’ wish lists. He’d also run the risk of potentially opting out and having the Mets pursue Guerrero to replace him.

That will be a conversation for another day, but in the here and now, I think we can all agree that we’d like to see Alonso and the Mets figure this thing out. The Mets are a better and more fun team with the Polar Bear playing first base, and as we head into January, both sides should be motivated to work something out sooner rather than later.

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Around the League 🚩

• The Marlins acquired first baseman Matt Mervis from the Cubs in exchange for versatile Vidal Brujan (ESPN)

• The Nationals inked 1B/DH Josh Bell to a one-year, $6 million contract (New York Post)

• Washington signed righty Patrick Weigel to a minor league contract (Talk Nats)