After an uncomfortably long free agency impasse, Pete Alonso and the New York Mets have reached an agreement on a new contract.
The 30-year-old first baseman returns to Queens on a two-year, $54 million contract that includes an opt-out after the first season. Alonso is guaranteed $30 million in 2025, with the option to re-test the market before 2026 if he performs well.
According to Bob Nightengale of USA Today, Alonso had the option of continuing with his existing contract or signing a regular three-year contract with New York, and he preferred the flexibility of opting out. While this is not a long-term deal, it is a significant success for the Mets’ front staff.
At various moments this winter, the odds of Alonso re-signing in New York ranged from apparently certain to virtually unfathomable, but in the end, a fan favorite has decided to stay. It was always difficult to picture Alonso suiting up anywhere. It’s also worth noting how important he is to New York’s offensive strategy, even after signing Juan Soto.
Mets win big with two-year Pete Alonso contract
To be honest, the outcome is startling. With pay numbers soaring around the league, Alonso effectively signing a one-and-done contract with the Mets represents a complete failure on the part of Scott Boras. One has to think that more lucrative contracts were on the table at various moments during the offseason. The market for over-30 first basemen is somewhat convoluted, but Alonso has essentially been baseball’s top home run threat since moving to Queens.
Still, a reunion feels appropriate. The Mets badly needed Alonso to round out their lineup. The three-headed monster of Francisco Lindor, Juan Soto, and Mark Vientos can go far on their own, but Alonso provides invaluable protection in the cleanup zone. He is one of the most scary batters in Major League Baseball, and the Mets will capitalize on that fear.
Alonso will return to first base, while Vientos will remain at the hot corner. Brett Baty stands to lose the most in terms of ABs and field reps, but the Mets will find other ways to keep the 25-year-old active. With Alonso’s future looking bleak at best, especially if he dominates behind Soto and Vientos all season, the Mets must not lose sight of what lies ahead. Baty and other elite infield prospects, namely Luisangel Acuña, should be extensively involved in the game plan.
If this was always going to be a short-term, prove-it contract, Alonso was bound to return to New York. Based solely on last season’s results, the Mets have emerged as apparent frontrunners in the loaded NL East. Atlanta and Philadelphia are not jokes, but the Mets are creating something special.
