Pete Alonso has been one of the main faces of the Mets since his debut in 2019, but will the slugger still be in New York when the 2024 season opens?
Alonso is set to become a free agent at the end of next season, setting him up for a potential nine-figure salary. The Mets have held discussions with Alonso’s camp about a potential extension, sources said, but the two sides appear to have different ideas on the type of contract the 28-year-old will command.
“The Mets made an offer that, while it wasn’t insulting, wasn’t good enough to convince Alonso to give up free agency,” said a source with knowledge of the talks. “But the offseason is a long one. There’s no urgency to do something right now.”
They could also agree on a deal for 2024 (Alonso’s final arbitration year) this offseason, and then reassess their options next summer when he nears free agency and becomes available. with an explanation of the organization.
New York’s active Trade Deadline – the Mets traded Justin Verlander, Max Scherzer, Mark Canha, David Robertson and Tommy Pham in an attempt to get younger – led many to plan for the club to use 2024 as a reset, although not as the start of a full rebuild.
“I’m not convinced the Mets are ready to tank in 2024,” the source said. “They would do well to bring back Alonso and essentially bring back the same offense they had this season, then sign some starting pitchers to multi-year deals. The first thing they need to do is find out if who will make the decisions.”
Owner Steve Cohen will have the most say, though he is expected to hire a president of baseball operations to replace the department ahead of general manager Billy Eppler. David Stearns — a New York native who ran the Brewers’ baseball operations department from September 2015 to October 2021 — has been viewed as the leading candidate for a while, and until the position is settled, it’s impossible to tell. which approach the Mets will take. with their roster.
With Alonso set to become a free agent after the 2024 season — minus a salary expected to fall into the $21 million range in his final arbitration year this offseason — the Mets could explore the possibilities of trade in the coming months. USA Today reported Sunday that the Mets have told other teams that any player out of contract beyond 2024 is available, with some executives saying they expect to deal Alonso this offseason. .
“Trading Alonso is probably the smartest course of action if the Mets plan to take next season as a soft reset year,” a National League executive said. “It saves them what would be a big salary in 2024 and there’s no reason they can’t try to sign him as a free agent after 2024. big, but that’s probably still their best option .”
Another NL executive believes there is a possibility the Mets will move Alonso this winter, though not for pennies on the dollar. As with their deals for Verlander and Scherzer, it’s possible the Mets could pay Alonso’s salary in exchange for an upgraded prospect, or prospects, they’ll receive in return.
Miguel Cabrera holds the record for average annual salary for a first baseman at $31 million, followed by Freddie Freeman ($27 million) and Paul Goldschmidt ($26 million). Matt Olson signed an eight-year, $168 million deal ($21 million AAV) after being traded to the Braves last winter, although he is two years away from free agency as opposed to Alonso, who is one. Olson was two weeks shy of his 29th birthday when he signed his extension, while Alonso will turn 29 this December and enter his age-30 season when he reaches free agency.
Alonso’s incredible power – he has 185 home runs in 653 career games, averaging more than 40 home runs per year over his four full seasons – should line him up for a big salary, but is he looking for something between Olson and Freeman, or is he targeting a deal in the $30 million-plus range, potentially giving him the highest AAV for a first baseman in history?
If the Mets’ talks with Alonso this offseason don’t bring the two sides closer, New York may decide to trade the three-time All-Star for prospects rather than risk losing him for Draft-pick compensation .
Since the Mets don’t have the same salary cap as other clubs, the NL executive believes “they’re going to move on unless they get a high-end prospect, similar to how the Deadline game played out.”
The Brewers and Cubs were among the clubs that talked to the Mets about Alonso before this year’s Trade Deadline, and given the lack of impact first basemen have had on the free-agent market this year, more clubs are likely to join in. fight if Alonso is available. .
“Is there a chance [Alonso gets traded]? Sure,” said an American League executive. “There aren’t too many bat-oriented players available this offseason because it’s a weak free agent class. Is it a slam dunk? I doubt it. The best Mets team in 2024 includes him, and I can’t imagine that they have fully determined the outcome.