Pete Alonso, New York’s beloved “Polar Bear,” is lumbering into his final season before free agency. New York Mets fans dream of a 2025 fairytale where Big Pete stays put, but the picture isn’t as rosy as Citi Field’s outfield roses.

As Jon Heyman, the baseball oracle of The NY Post, points out, Alonso deserves a protector. Imagine facing pitchers constantly walking on eggshells around your 46-homer bat, only to be met with a revolving door of “No. 5-hitting hopefuls” whiffing like windmills. As the stakes on him keep rising, Heyman suggests two free-agent sluggers who could shield Alonso and help the Metsies lock him down for the longest time. Guess who they are?

Polar Bear on Thin Ice: Will the Mets sink Pete Alonso’s free agency dreams?

The hitters on the top of Heyman’s list are two of the best ones available in free agency right now—J.D. Martinez and Jorge Soler. Both boast World Series glory and fearsome bats. But here’s the rub: the Mets are playing coy, their checkbook seemingly glued shut.

Imagine facing this predicament despite being baseball’s richest owner (thanks, Steve Cohen!). While the LA Dodgers are out there building a Death Star with Shohei Ohtani and a $325 million pitcher in Yoshinobu Yamamoto, the Mets are offering Pete Alonso…crickets, for the lack of better words? It’s not exactly a ringing endorsement of their commitment to winning.

Heyman throws shade, suggesting the Mets’ “fan expectation of an annual billionaire-enhanced dynamo appears in jeopardy.” Yikes. Imagine the Citi Field boos if Alonso walks in 2025!

So, will the need for a big-bat signing scuttle Pete Alonso’s long-term future in New York? It is a home-run threat, after all. Heyman believes it’s “a real weakness” and “perhaps even a reason for Alonso to bolt.”

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The clock is ticking, Mets. Prove to Alonso and your fans that you’re serious about winning. Unleash the inner billionaire, snag a slugger, and give the Polar Bear the protection he deserves. Otherwise, 2025 might see Alonso hibernating in a new ballpark, leaving the fans with nothing but cold comfort. Right now, the Mets face a tantalizing choice: to decide between going for Soler’s power or Martinez’s consistency. Who swings best in Queens?

Mets DH Showdown: Martinez’s power or Soler’s smarts?

The Mets have a brand new DH drama! Who’s the slugger they need: veteran J.D. Martinez, packing serious power (33 homers last year), or young Jorge Soler, boasting plate discipline and outfield gloves?

Experience vs. Youth: Martinez, the grizzled hitter (36), brings instant pop but whispers of Father Time. Injuries sidelined him in 2023. Soler, the youngster (32), walks more, strikes out less, and even plays outfield corners. Plus, he’s healthier.

Powerhouse or Balance? Martinez smashes more homers, but his strikeouts are scary. Soler offers consistent offense with fewer whiffs and more walks.

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Defense? Not really Martinez’s thing: He’s strictly DH now. Soler can handle outfield corners as well as DH, giving the Mets the flexibility they require with Pete Alonso.

Who wins? Tough call. Martinez’s power is tempting, but age and health are worries. Soler brings youth, balance, and defense, but less power. The Mets’ decision hinges on their needs: instant pop with risk or a sustainable, flexible option? Mets fans are on the edge of their seats! Who will hit the winning homer in this DH duel?