Despite all the investment they made in the offseason, the New York Mets have a tough road to the playoffs in 2025. The Queens nine have fallen too far behind the Phillies in the National League East and right now Cincinnati is breathing down their necks for the last Wild Card spot in the Old Circuit.
Nothing is guaranteed, and the franchise’s plans could be blown up less than a year after playing for the National League pennant against the Dodgers. This could have consequences for the upcoming campaign, because if they miss the postseason, some players may choose to try their luck with other projects.
Such is the case of Pete Alonso, who is once again heading for free agency. The first baseman signed a two-year, $54 million contract last February, but negotiations with the Mets were “exhausting”, even “worse” than those of Juan Soto, according to Steve Cohen, the owner of the organization.
With this thunder, it is not surprising that Alonso – very well advised by a market monster like Scott Boras – kept an opt-out clause at the end of the current season, all with the aim of trying again in free agency and looking for a long-term contract.
In fact, that was the first baseman’s intention last winter, when he intended to sign for at least six years and an amount of $125-140 million. However, the Mets did not give in and he did not find other offers that convinced him.
Credentials for a juicier signature
Since his MLB debut in 2019, only Aaron Judge (272) and Kyle Schwarber (257) have more home runs than Pete Alonso (255). In a six-year span, the “Polar Bear” has become the Mets’ all-time home run leader, surpassing Darry Strawberry, who needed eight seasons to hit 252 balls beyond the limits.
The impact of the first baseman has been undeniable, with averages of more than 40 home runs and 115 RBIs per season among the highest in the entire circuit. Alonso led the Majors in home runs in 2019 and in RBIs in 2022. He was also Rookie of the Year, has been to five All-Star Games and has won the Home Run Derby twice.
As an added detail, Pete has been a rock, enduring the day-to-day intensity and demands of MLB. In six seasons he has missed only 24 games and has played 976, only surpassed by Marcus Semien (986). This year he has not missed a single game in the Mets’ 130 games, with 29 home runs and 103 RBIs, the undisputed leader among all first basemen in the majors.
These credentials obviously put him in a very good position to sit down and renegotiate the terms of his contract and secure a long-term extension.
Possible destinations
Pete Alonso has been a stalwart for the Mets and will surely prioritise the New York outfit in a bidding war between several teams. However, Steve Cohen and company must give him a fair deal if they do not want him to take another destination. The first baseman will not be short of suitors, as he would fit in perfectly with teams that have a clear deficit at first base.
Such is the case, for example, with the Giants, whose first basemen have the worst indicators of home runs (9), RBIs (47) and OPS (.604) among all Major League teams. A total of seven players have played the position and none has convinced.
San Francisco has sought the signature of a major free agent in recent years, but has not succeeded. In fact, they came close to agreeing with Aaron Judge and Carlos Correa, who went to the Yankees and the Twins, respectively. Although they managed to trade for Rafael Devers, they are still looking for a big fish in the market to challenge the might of the Dodgers and Padres.
The Giants have not had a player with at least 30 home runs in a season since Barry Bonds in 2004, so they are still on the hunt for a slugger to lift the fans in the Bay Area.
Another potential destination for Alonso is the Boston Red Sox, who have freed up payroll by trading Devers and have openly bet on their top prospects. Nevertheless, they are a strong market team that could invest in a big free agent to try to make a difference.
In 2025, Boston lost Triston Casas to injury, their starting first baseman, and have not had much luck at the position. Among all the first basemen they have tried, they have 14 home runs and an OPS of .676, among the eight worst in MLB. Alonso would undoubtedly take the team to another level.
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