The Mets’ season has taken a brutal turn, and the data lay bare just how concerning the collapse has been. The Mets began their season with an impressive record of 45-24, which was the best record in MLB at that point. However, they have gone 31-47 since, a skid worse than all but 3 teams: the Twins, Nationals, and the Rockies. Not only that, but also the latest loss of Friday night with a 6-0 record to the Marlins was the Mets’ sixth straight loss, and as a result, the team is now knocked out of the Wild card spot. ESPN’s Jeff Passon highlighted the situation bluntly: “This isn’t a collapse. It’s a disintegration.” This defeat only intensifies their historic freefall. As Opta Stats highlighted, they are the only team in MLB history to have 3 separate losing streaks of 7 or more games and still remain in the playoff race this late in the season.

After such an intense loss, all attention has turned towards Pete Alonso, and now, his future looms as the largest storyline of the offseason. The slugger spoke candidly about the urgency the team faces. “There’s a high sense of urgency every single day, because it’s the big leagues and you’ve got to do whatever you can to win games every day,” Alonso said. However, the star also dropped a subtle bomb that raises questions related to his future with the team. “It would be great to stay. But, again, whatever happens, happens. I can’t get a crystal ball. I wish I could, but we’ll see”, he added. The star, a fan favorite and team anchor, has not committed to an extension, and this fact has put intense pressure on the President of Baseball Operations, David Stearns.

Now, a call for urgency for Stearns is coming from

WFAN’s Joe B, who has highlighted the team’s troubling history of mishandling stars. He also warned against making the same mistake with Pete Alonso. “They’ve let everybody walk… they let Darryl Strawberry walk in 1990, they let Daniel Murphy walk, they traded Zack Wheeler, they traded David Cone,” Joe B said. “They better freaking sign Alonso. They better not do the same thing that they did with Strawberry with Alonso. He better know and he better sign him before free agency”, he added. His warning was clear: the team cannot afford another high-profile misstep.

This concern is not unfounded. Joe B reminded fans that the team was “ready to let him walk last year,” and it was fan backlash that kept the star around. He warned that this time, the market will be far less forgiving. “That ain’t gonna be the case this year. The guy’s got 124 RBIs, 40 doubles, 37 homers. You think the Yankees don’t need a first baseman? Could you imagine that? I’ve heard the Astros are interested. I’ve heard the Reds are interested. You better sign him and you better sign Díaz too.”

Simply saying, David Stearns has backed the team and himself into a corner. The Mets have destroyed a promising season and now sit on the edge of losing their homegrown star. Alonso’s statement highlights that he is

open to staying but will not wait forever. Stearns is in his early years with the team; however, he has a vital decision to make: extend Alonso and establish around the star, or risk repeating decades of costly errors.

Now, some analysts are predicting that if Alonso reaches free agency without an extension, the Yankees will create a bidding war that the Mets could regret.

Yankees lineup could get a massive boost with Alonso’s arrival

The Yankees’ present first base situation describes why Alonso is an attractive target. While Paul Goldschmidt and newcomer Ben Rice have held their own, their combined .728 OPS falls well short of Alonso’s elite .876 mark. His capability to navigate runs and perform consistent power would give New York another middle-of-the-order artillery, reducing the burden on Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton. With Paul’s one-year contract expiring, the Yankees are in a prime position to make a bold move that could redefine their offensive core in the upcoming year. 

Beyond the stats, Pete Alonso’s power, and the essence of New York  make the potential signing more eye-catching. A high-profile crosstown transfer must electrify the city, increase ticket sales, and deliver a clear notion that the Yankees are now in full win mode. WFAN host Joe Benigno magnified that buzz, forecasting that if the Mets do not act quickly, the Yankees “will pounce and make a serious offer” this winter. His on-air foretelling has only increased the sense that a Bronx blockbuster could be brewing, one that must be both a lineup improvement for the Yankees and a PR disaster for the New York Mets. 

For New York, the clock is ticking fast. Losing Alonso to their biggest competitors would be more than a roster loss; it would be a searing statement about the clubhouse’s direction and ambition. The world is watching David Stearns to see whether he secures his slugger or risks a city-shaking move unfolding across town.