Pete Alonso is a fan favorite, and it’s tough to see him in this kind of situation. First off, his 7-year extension contract offer of $158 million from the Mets was a really solid deal, especially for a 1B. It’s a fair amount of money that would’ve locked him up long-term, and it was right around what people expected him to be worth. The fact that ‘Polar Bear’ declined that offer and later fired his then-agent definitely signaled he’s looking for something more lucrative.

Well, this ain’t surprising when you have Scott Boras in your corner. Boras is all about maximizing value and leveraging free agency, so that move wasn’t unexpected. Alonso had an unreal start to his career, hitting 53 homers in 2019, and that put him on the map as a top-tier power hitter. But since then, his numbers have gone up and down, especially with strikeouts and consistency.

Pete Alonso is becoming less popular day by day

Pete Alonso is still a legit slugger, but he hasn’t quite matched that rookie magic. At 30, a 1B with a high strikeout rate and not much else in his profile is a harder sell for long-term deals. The Mets have made moves to improve their depth and overall team structure. So, giving a 30-year-old power hitter, who might start to age poorly, a $200 million deal is risky. They’ve been burnt before on contracts that don’t age well. Investing that kind of money in a 1B isn’t always the best way to allocate resources when you’re trying to build a balanced roster.

At the end of the day, Alonso was a Mets legend in the making, but it’s business, too. If the Mets can’t reach a reasonable deal with him, or if he’s set on testing free agency for a bigger payday, they’ll have to think long-term. He’s great now, but they have to consider what he’ll be like in five years. If they let Polar Bear walk, it sucks. However, it’s not like the club is doing so just for the sake of being cheap; it’s about being smart with the money. Do you think they should give him what he wants?

The Mets can find an alternate in Alex Bregman

Top Comment by Mrhollywood1024

It’s called the ‘Boras’ hustle! Boras is, obviously, interested in his own bottom line. If he loses a client here...more

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Debate

Listen there might still be hope of Pete Alonso’s return to the Mets, but truth be told, things aren’t looking good. The four-time All-Star had set his sights on a $200 million payday last winter, and he’s pretty adamant on it. At the time, it seemed like a reasonable request for a player with this kind of power. Well, here we are now and that number looks a lot like a dream.

Also, the market of this 30-year-old hasn’t exactly been hot. Is any squad going to go for $200 million? If not, does this push Alonso back into the Mets, probably with a lesser deal? Knowing the Mets, they could also head to a different direction. Alex Bregman, the two-time All-Star third baseman of the Houston Astros, is also unsigned. Bregman, however, might be the guy who can make the Mets’ lineup a feared one. Instead of reuniting with Alonso, do you think they will push hard for Bregman in free agency?

If so, then, unfortunately, it will be a goodbye for Alonso. Bregman would move into the third base position, with Mark Vientos to the first base. It basically needs a lot of shifting but would be worth it. Vientos has never played at first but probably has what it takes. Bregman, Lindor, Soto, and hopefully an all-arounder Vientos will make New York one of the most feared lineups in the league.

What are your thoughts? Share in the comments.