The Pete Alonso Conundrum

[Benjamin Grimm]

I hope that's not an accurate take, but if it is, so be it.

[metsmarathon]

if so, what a colossal failure for both sides to come together.

[Lefty Specialist]

Don't want to talk about him in the past tense yet, but there was a deal for Alonso to be had. If they didn't get it done, I'll bet it was more on Boras/Alonso than the Mets.

Still need a hitter. Either at 1st/3rd or DH, because the current lineup even with Soto won't get it done. And work needs to be done on the bullpen pronto.

[batmagadanleadoff]

Don't want to talk about him in the past tense yet, but there was a deal for Alonso to be had. If they didn't get it done, I'll bet it was more on Boras/Alonso than the Mets.

Can't blame the Alonso camp if they end up getting a better deal from some team other than the Mets.

[Fman99]

It'd be a pretty big bummer to see him wearing someone else's colors in 2025. Especially if the intent is to not sign Bregman or Santander and just go with the cheaper in-house options (Acuna, Mauricio, Baty), none of which have a proven MLB track record.

So we're potentially plus Soto but minus Alonso, and JD Martinez's numbers. And the rotation is a downgrade from the 2024 rotation, at least on paper. So I'm not getting a warm fuzzy from this one

[ashie62]

Blue Jays are looking to win this season. They are still in the Sasaki derby. You might hear some Vlad trade rumors at the deadline this season but not now

I'm expecting the Mets to sign Anthony Santander

At that point it becomes Pete are you on board or not?

[batmagadanleadoff]

Don't want to talk about him in the past tense yet, but there was a deal for Alonso to be had. If they didn't get it done, I'll bet it was more on Boras/Alonso than the Mets.

Can't blame the Alonso camp if they end up getting a better deal from some team other than the Mets.

If you wanna blame, blame eff Wilpon for selling out the Mets future. Alonso shouldn't even be a free agent this off-season.

[Buck4Prez]

Don't want to talk about him in the past tense yet, but there was a deal for Alonso to be had. If they didn't get it done, I'll bet it was more on Boras/Alonso than the Mets.

Can't blame the Alonso camp if they end up getting a better deal from some team other than the Mets.

If you wanna blame, blame eff Wilpon for selling out the Mets future. Alonso shouldn't even be a free agent this off-season.

It's been like 5 years. wtf cares about the Wilpons? It's 2025, if they don't want to 'overpay' Alonso, that's a decision, but it's not super useful to armchair GM the way you think things happened 6 years ago.

[batmagadanleadoff]

Can't blame the Alonso camp if they end up getting a better deal from some team other than the Mets.

If you wanna blame, blame eff Wilpon for selling out the Mets future. Alonso shouldn't even be a free agent this off-season.

It's been like 5 years. wtf cares about the Wilpons? It's 2025, if they don't want to 'overpay' Alonso, that's a decision, but it's not super useful to armchair GM the way you think things happened 6 years ago.

It's a factor. It's not the only factor and it's not even the main factor, but it's definitely a factor and something to consider..

Not useful to what? Do you think that my post is gonna screw up the Alonso negotiations?

[Marshmallowmilkshake]

I am hoping this is just some hardball negotiating.

[Benjamin Grimm]

I am hoping this is just some hardball negotiating.

I am too. But I've survived the departures of Seaver (twice!), Staub, Strawberry, Gooden, Alfonzo, Reyes, deGrom and others, so if Pete goes life will go on.

But yes, I do hope this is just posturing on the Mets' part. And it may well be.

[Centerfield]

I take all of this with a grain of salt. The Mets front office doesn't leak. So figure everything you're hearing is coming from Boras, especially since Heyman is one of the guys reporting this. Stearns/Mets don't benefit in any way from news that they are pivoting to plan B. Boras does. The news comes out. Mets fans get outraged. Boras tries to use that to ramp up the pressure on the Mets.

When the Soto saga was going on, the numbers were leaked constantly. Because it benefited Boras/Soto to have the numbers floated around so teams would increase their bids. With Pete's side, it's been a week and there's been no release of Pete's demands. This suggests that Boras doesn't want those numbers to be known.

I think this is all a negotiation ploy, and that eventually the two sides will agree upon a deal.

[Channel9]

When Strawberry left for L.A. it was the same kind of sentiment. In retrospect it was the right move. Straw had one good year and then pfft. I’m as big an Alonso fan as there is, but you know sometimes you gotta just cut bait.

[Frayed Knot]

The Mets made what they perceived as a last-ditch effort to sign Pete Alonso by offering him a three-year contract in the $68 million to $70 million range and, when that was rejected, began their pivot away from their slugging first baseman, The Post has learned.
The Mets did not send out a statement that the Alonso Era was done. But they have come to believe – without some unexpected late reversal — that it is.


Joel Sherman -- https://nypost.com/2025/01/16/sports/wh ... roke-down/



Not sounding too much like a negotiation ploy.

[metirish]

Damn, that looks like an offer he has to reject

[metsmarathon]

Damn.

I mean, if you look at FanGraphs value tab, he’s barely a $20M player so perhaps that’s actually fair. I think him in the lineup would some compounding impact above that, especially batting behind Soto.

But gosh it’s hard to look at that and then go say pay him $30M.

Irrespective of that… I still want him back. $27 for one and see how it goes.

[Frayed Knot]

OTOH, it's tough to see how one or more of the teams labeled as interested are going to get into a bidding war and top the Mets offer, at least not by much.
And if the ultimate winning bid does only top it by a bit is Pete going to take it just because it's the highest so as to prove some kind of point? Or because of pressure from Boras/MLBPA to never settle for less than top offer?

There's a saying about how the decisions you make strictly for the most money often are the ones that make you less happy. Given Pete's stated position that he wanted to remain in New York, will he ultimately swallow hard and accept the offer from the Mets even though it's four years shorter and less than half as lucrative as the one he rejected in 2023?

[batmagadanleadoff]

Wasn't it reported that the Mets offered 3/90? I guess that was incorrect.

[The Hot Corner]

When Strawberry left for L.A. it was the same kind of sentiment. In retrospect it was the right move. Straw had one good year and then pfft. I’m as big an Alonso fan as there is, but you know sometimes you gotta just cut bait.

Yup. I say offer him $78 mil. for 3 years* with opt out after both year 1 and 2. If that isn't good enough, then good luck in the future.


*Of course, it's not my money so it's easy to up the reported offer.

[Fman99]

For all of Pete's self-professed Mets love over the years, don't forget that he rejected a $150+ million dollar offer during the summer of 2023 so that he could play the market. I loved rooting for the guy but he dug his own hole here by getting progressively worse for the last couple of seasons and holding out for the big payday. I'm sure the MLBPA and his agency has a role in that decision too, but, ultimately, some people actually do take less money to play where they already love playing. And some are Pete. There, I said it.

I think the Mets pivot and spend and still upgrade the roster before opening day 2025. I know they want to see what they have in some of the younger bats but the Cohen regime generally has been willing to spend on positional help. They did it very late in the game last spring with the J.D. signing and I think hopefully they learned not to let things linger on so long - get these guys situated in time for a proper spring training at least.

[metirish]

Yeah I agree with Fman , I don't feel bad for Pete , but damn that deal must be looking mighty fine right now , should have been smart like Nimmo

[ashie62]

NY Post says today Alonso was offered 68-70 for 3 years

And the Mets pivoted to Winker

Sporting news is running Vladdy rumors to the Mets

[Benjamin Grimm]

Vlad will come at a steep price in young players. I would only do it if there's a negotiating window.

I don't see it happening.

[ashie62]

Martino went on that the Mets are done on Alonso

They've signed Winker and now maybe a reliever, a top one

Who knows but Pete's price seems to be going down?

[metirish]

Well, there doesn't seem to be much of a market for him, maybe now with the Mets supposedly out a market will develop?