The New York Mets are in a bit of a pickle when it comes to Pete Alonso. The star first baseman has opted out of his contract, entering free agency for the second winter in a row. The Mets are keen to bring him back, as he's their franchise leader in home runs and a homegrown star. But Alonso is now 31 and wants a long-term deal that would take him deep into his 30s. It's unclear if any team will be willing to give him the amount of years he's looking for, let alone the Mets.
The Mets haven't hidden their interest in bringing Alonso back, but they have other priorities this winter, namely starting pitching. If Alonso doesn't re-sign, the Mets could pivot with another superstar slugger like Kyle Schwarber. The Mets are also considering investing in an expensive outfielder like Cody Bellinger or Kyle Tucker and finding a cost-effective solution to play first base.
The Winter Meetings are set to be a crucial phase in the free agency sweepstakes, with Alonso meeting with teams in person. The Red Sox and Orioles are set to meet with the slugging first baseman, and it remains to be seen if the Mets will link up with Alonso to talk about a reunion. The Mets' owner, Steve Cohen, can compete with any Alonso suitor when it comes to average annual value and overall salary, but the length of the deal could prove to be the difference here.
Alonso has made it clear that he's willing to play designated hitter moving forward, which is music to the Mets' ears. However, the Mets are also focused on run prevention this winter and may prefer to import a superior defender to play first base next season and beyond.
The Mets' beat reporter, Max Goodman, has been following the situation closely. Goodman spent the last three seasons working as a Yankees beat reporter and graduated from Northwestern University in 2019. The Mets' situation with Alonso is a complex one, and it remains to be seen how it will play out. Will the Mets be able to bring back their star player, or will they have to pivot to another superstar slugger? The Winter Meetings will be a crucial phase in determining the Mets' future.
