What many in baseball lengthy suspected eventually got here to fruition on Wednesday evening: Pete Alonso is returning to the Mets. The beloved slugger reached free company for the primary time in his profession, and whereas he actually peddled his wares across the league, in some ways, a reunion felt inevitable.
Then once more: The 2-year, $54 million contract he agreed to, with a possible opt-out after one season in line with sources, won’t have been precisely what Alonso had in thoughts when he hit the market.
It is a large deal, although, and solutions one of many final lingering questions of this offseason. Right here’s a have a look at six rapid takeaways within the wake of this information.
The Mets bought what they wantedAlonso and agent Scott Boras clearly had been hoping for a four- or five-year deal, and after Alonso hit that clutch dwelling run to beat the Brewers within the NL Wild Card Collection, you puzzled if that might be what he’d get. (Significantly when all these Alonso-to-the-Jays rumors have been effervescent up a few weeks in the past.)
However the Mets have been clearly conscious of the historical past of giving large, long-term offers to burly, dwelling run-hitting first basemen. These typically don’t age effectively — the Orioles’ expertise with Chris Davis being a main instance — and it was clear New York all the time wished to restrict the variety of years on this contract. That’s precisely what occurred.
The concern was by no means in regards to the subsequent season or two, with Alonso at ages 30-31. It was about what Alonso can be as he approaches and enters his mid-30s. For now, the Mets don’t have to fret about that.
Either side simply kicked the can down the roadOne of the numerous good issues about Spring Coaching is that it offers everyone a deadline: Either side have quite a lot of incentive to provide you with a deal by the point everyone reveals up in Florida and Arizona. It positive seems like that occurred right here.
The Mets didn’t wish to give Alonso an extended deal; Alonso wished to maximise his cash, each quick and long run. When there wasn’t a logical assembly level between these two sides, they each punted. The Mets didn’t give in to a five-year deal, and Alonso bought some huge cash in 2025 and the flexibility to decide out and take a look at all this once more earlier than the 2026 season.
If you happen to have been exhausted by how lengthy this course of took, I’ve some dangerous information: There’s an actual probability we’re all going to do it once more subsequent 12 months.
The Mets don’t need to rush their younger playersThe Mets all the time may have moved Mark Vientos to the primary base — in all probability his extra pure place — and tossed third base to Brett Baty or Luisangel Acuña to see if they might set up themselves as a giant league common. However why put your self in that place when you don’t need to, particularly when you find yourself going through a tricky division race?
Retaining Alonso for a 12 months, or two (relying on that opt-out), permits the Mets the liberty to let these gamers take their time creating, for them to not be underneath rapid stress to carry out for a group that’s going to attempt to win a World Collection subsequent 12 months, and yearly thereafter.
Can Baty or Acuña (or Ronny Mauricio, or any of the opposite Mets prospects) take over third base — or first base — sooner or later? Maybe. However there’s an excessive amount of on the road in 2025 to rely on it. Bringing again Alonso means they don’t need to.
Alonso’s standing as an all-time Met is secureAlonso would possibly simply play yet another 12 months with the Mets, however even that needs to be sufficient to nail down a elementary reality: He’s a Mets legend. Sitting at 226 profession homers, if he’s in a position to hit 27 this 12 months — and may you think about Alonso not hitting 27 homers? — he’ll cross David Wright (242) after which Darryl Strawberry (252) to turn into the Mets’ all-time chief. (The one man you’ll be able to think about passing him within the subsequent twenty years: Juan Soto, who at present has zero.)
If Alonso can add simply 70 extra RBIs, to get to 656, he additionally would bounce Ed Kranepool, Howard Johnson and Mike Piazza for third on the Mets’ record, behind solely Strawberry (733) and Wright (970).
It’s a particular factor to be a franchise’s all-time chief in dwelling runs. That Alonso has completed it with such pleasure in his coronary heart for these Mets and their followers is a particular factor.
The NL East race goes to be wildSo the Phillies have been improbable final 12 months and have a cavalcade of veterans who’ve made it their life’s mission to get a World Collection title earlier than time comes for them. The Braves made the playoffs regardless of a historic plague of accidents, and now that almost all of their stars needs to be again to full power not lengthy after the beginning of the common season, they might as soon as once more resemble the dominant group they have been earlier than.
And naturally, the Mets signed top-of-the-line gamers in baseball and have saved in place all the important thing items round him. Is it attainable that three of the highest 5 – 6 groups in MLB will all play within the NL East in 2025? It positive looks as if it. This race goes to be riveting from begin to end. We are able to’t wait.
The Blue Jays want to determine this Vlad Jr. enterprise, and soonIt by no means made a ton of sense for the Jays to signal Alonso, as was so extensively rumored a fortnight in the past. They nonetheless would have had Vladimir Guerrero Jr. on their roster in 2025, which might have been an odd match for one 12 months. Had they given Alonso the lengthy contract it possible would have taken to convey him north of the border, it additionally seemingly would have eradicated Vlad Jr. from their consideration for an extension.
Now there isn’t a such impediment for Toronto. This group has been busy this offseason, but it surely doesn’t seem like the Jays are going as all-in on 2025 because it as soon as appeared. However that simply makes locking in Vlad Jr. extra vital than ever. There aren’t going to be many choices to switch him. And, if something, Alonso’s somewhat-underwhelming contract could present them a possible opening.
