Pete Alonso is still a free agent; can you believe it? The 30-year-old is still up for grabs. There are several reports suggesting that the Mets are in talks with the sluggers, but nothing has been decided yet. Several teams, like the Yankees, have already signed a first baseman. There have been ties made to the Yankees because of the slugger’s closeness to Hal Steinbrenner.

However, the Yanks got Paul Goldschmidt and Cody Bellinger, so their roster almost seems full. So where does that leave Alonso? Mets legend Keith Hernandez recently gave his remarks on the topic on a podcast. Hernandez believes that Pete Alonso should definitely stay with the Mets. His reasoning? Along with Alonso, Juan Soto and Francisco Lindor would make the ultimate trio.

Former Mets player’s prediction for the ‘Polar Bear’

Hall of Famer Keith Hernandez made his feelings known about the whole Pete Alonso situation on the ‘Nothing Personal with David Samson’ podcast. “I think Pete wants to stay. What’s Pete gonna sign for, $150 million? If he signs for $150 million, you’re set for life. You know it’s not like 30-40 years ago when you signed $800,000 or $500,000 contracts. That is not even close to what salaries are today; you’re set for life. Hernandez went on to add, “So, with that trio of Lindor, Pete, and Soto…that is a formidable trio.”  

So then, what’s with the delay? Apparently, the fact that the first baseman has not had a great year in 2024 has something to do with it. The Mets also have spent too much already. First on Juan Soto, then on re-signing Sean Manaea. The Mets gave Soto a record-breaking $765 million contract, whereas they re-signed Manaea for a three-year, $75 million deal. All these factors have also delayed the negotiation talks with Alonso. Another factor is his age. The player is 30 years old and is prone to injuries; so, teams have been a little hesitant to give him a long-term offer, including the Mets.

Top Comment by Hayden Hunt

My thoughts exactly, He played all 162 games, played the most over the last several years, where are they getting...more

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Pete Alonso’s gamble on himself

Last year, Pete Alonso was pretty confident that he would be earning more if he went through free agency. Alonso had rejected the offer given by the Mets, who had reportedly offered the slugger a seven-year, $158 million extension during the 2023 season. But ‘The Polar Bear’ did not wish to take it, opting for his chances on free agency instead, but till now, it has not been fruitful. Nonetheless, the offseason is still going on, so there’s still hope. Moreover, Alonso could have also seen past trends of the Mets and thought that this trick might work.

In 2022, Brandon Nimmo made the bold decision to bet on himself, turning down a $19.65 million qualifying offer from the Mets to test the free agency. Fast forward to today, and he’s back in Queens, locking down an eight-year, $162 million contract. The gamble? It paid off, even though his numbers over the last two years haven’t strayed far from what he produced in his walk year. Yoenis Céspedes’ tenure with the Mets serves as a cautionary tale for anyone thinking about betting big on themselves without a guaranteed return. After rejecting a $17.32 million offer in 2016, Céspedes inked a lucrative four-year, $110 million deal with New York.

However, not every time has this gamble worked. After declining the Mets’ $18.3 million offer in 2021, Michael Conforto’s market quickly dried up. He missed all of 2022 recovering from a shoulder injury. When he finally signed with the San Francisco Giants in 2023, it was for a modest two-year, $36 million deal. So, what does all this mean for Pete Alonso? It means that while this method has worked in the past, it does not guarantee Alonso’s return, and that too with a big payday. However, if the Mets do sign him, Keith Hernandez wouldn’t be wrong. Alonso, Lindor, and Soto would make a formidable trio.