Talks between the Mets and Pete Alonso’s brokers on the Boras Company seemingly hit an deadlock final week, as stories emerged that the Mets expected Alonso to signal elsewhere after the 2 sides every rejected the opposite’s contract provides. Workforce proprietor Steve Cohen and president of baseball operations David Stearns every addressed the state of affairs on the “Amazin’ Day” fan occasion this weekend at Citi Area, with Cohen reinforcing the concept the door isn’t closed on an Alonso reunion, however the possibilities of an settlement seem diminished.
“We made a big provide to Pete,” Cohen advised followers and media, together with The Athletic’s Will Sammon. Nonetheless, the proprietor doesn’t “just like the constructions which can be being offered again to us. I feel it’s extremely uneven towards us, and I really feel strongly about it. I’ll by no means say no, you already know, there’s at all times the likelihood [of an agreement]. However the actuality is we’re transferring ahead, and as we proceed to usher in gamers, the truth is it turns into more durable to suit Pete into what’s a really costly group of gamers that we have already got.
“And that’s the place we’re, and I’m being brutally sincere. I don’t just like the negotiations. I don’t like what’s been offered to us. Pay attention, perhaps that modifications, and definitely, I’ll at all times keep versatile. If it stays this manner, I feel we’re going to should get used to the truth that we might should go ahead with the present gamers that we now have.”
The precise specifics of Scott Boras’ provides to the Mets aren’t recognized, although the idea floated was a three-year contract with at the very least one opt-out clause, which might enable Alonso to check free company once more seemingly as early as subsequent offseason. The construction is just like the offers signed by different Boras purchasers like Matt Chapman, Cody Bellinger, Blake Snell and Jordan Montgomery final winter, which noticed the gamers every obtain a excessive common annual worth inside the framework of these shorter-term contracts.
Stories indicated that the Mets’ countered the Alonso camp’s provide with a three-year deal (presumably nonetheless with opt-outs) value $68M-$70M, which might’ve given Alonso a tough AAV of $23M. Alonso and his reps rejected that provide and Sammon writes that the Mets then pulled the provide away solely, resulting in the present stalemate between the 2 sides. In response to Sammon, “It’s unknown if the Mets and Alonso have since re-engaged. So whether or not the door is open underneath related or totally different parameters stays a query.”
Whereas some gamesmanship may definitely have been at play in Cohen’s feedback, the Mets proprietor didn’t mince phrases in saying “personally, this has been an exhausting dialog and negotiation.” Cohen felt that the talks with Alonso had been “worse” than even the “robust” negotiations with Juan Soto that resulted in Soto’s file $765M contract. Paradoxically, each Soto and Alonso are represented by Boras, however clearly the markets for each sluggers diverse significantly.
Even earlier than the offseason started, there was some sense that Alonso (as a power-centric first baseman with barely declining numbers over the past two seasons) may need to accept a shorter-term take care of choose outs, so the truth that the talks with the Mets have targeted on such contracts isn’t a lot of a shock. What isn’t clear, nevertheless, is whether or not Alonso has different suitors keen to supply extra years, or at the very least greater common annual salaries. The Giants, Angels, Crimson Sox and Blue Jays have all reportedly proven some curiosity in Alonso, with Toronto seemingly making the most recent push for the primary baseman.
By way of how the Mets may be trying past Alonso, Jesse Winker was re-signed final week, filling one other gap on the position-player aspect. The New York Post’s Joel Sherman wrote that the Mets requested each Mark Vientos and Brett Baty to start out understanding at first base, with Baty additionally getting some reps as a second baseman.
Vientos has some expertise at first base already, and he was already locked into a daily spot in New York’s 2025 lineup whether or not as a 3rd baseman (if Alonso re-signed) or at first (if Alonso left and one other first base-only kind wasn’t obtained). Baty has performed nearly completely at third base throughout his 169-game MLB profession and within the minors, whereas spending a while at second base and in left subject within the minors. He has by no means performed first base on the skilled degree, with Baty telling Sammon that he final performed the place when he was a highschool sophomore.
However, Baty views the problem as “actually enjoyable….I’ve at all times prided myself on being as athletic as I may be. And I feel athleticism, you possibly can present it off at any place whether or not it’s first base, second base, third base, the outfield, no matter it’s.”
With a .215/.282/.325 slash line over 602 plate appearances on the MLB degree, Baty has but to determine himself over elements of three seasons within the Present, so including positional flexibility is at the very least a great way for the previous high prospect to assist his possibilities of making the roster. Between Baty, Luisangel Acuna and Ronny Mauricio, the Mets may let these children compete for enjoying time at third base, ideally with one stepping as much as tackle the common beginning job. If none are prepared for prime time, the Mets may pursue a nook infielder of some kind on the commerce deadline, with Vientos maybe shifting from first to 3rd base relying on who New York would possibly receive.
