Darryl Strawberry, the legendary slugger whose name has long been synonymous with New York Mets greatness, did not hold back his confusion regarding the departure of the man who recently broke his franchise home run record: Pete Alonso.
For Strawberry, the “Polar Bear’s” move to the Baltimore Orioles is more than just a free-agent signing, it is a decision he fears Alonso will one day wake up and regret.
A legacy left behind in Queens
Pete Alonso’s exit from New York marks the end of an era. After spending there seven seasons and obtaining a franchise-record 264 home runs, Alonso chose a new chapter in Baltimore, signing a five-year, $155 million contract. While the deal will fully secure his financial future, Strawberry believes Alonso sacrificed something far more valuable, the chance to be the undisputed king of Mets history.
“Pete could have broken all the records and could have been on top of every offensive category for this organization. One day he is going to wake up just like I did and regret you didn’t stick where you are at
He obviously speaks from experience. Following the 1990 season, he left the Mets for his hometown Los Angeles Dodgers, a move he has frequently cited as the greatest mistake of his professional life. He did not want Pete to go through the same path.
“This is New York, come on”
The main cause of his critique was not an attack to the Orioles organization or the city of Baltimore, but still he wants to highlight the unique platform New York provides for a homegrown star.
“I am not getting on Baltimore. But I am saying, this is New York, come on. Baltimore is a good place, but it’s not New York
Sources indicate that the Mets never actually made a formal offer to Alonso after he opted out, expecting his representatives to return to the table after exploring other suitors. By the time the Orioles’ offer was on the table, the bridge to Queens had already been burnt. Strawberry admitted that the he believes that both could have done better in finding the best option.
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