After spending seven seasons in Queens, Pete Alonso is testing the open market once again. “I love playing here … Every single day, it’s been a pleasure coming to work and putting on the orange and blue,” Alonso said after the Mets’ elimination on the final day of the season against the Marlins. “I’ve really appreciated it and have been nothing but full of gratitude. Nothing is guaranteed, but we’ll see what happens. I’ve loved being a Met. Hopefully, they’ve appreciated me the same.” But the plot thickened when Mike Puma of the New York Post reported Pete Alonso is expected to seek a contract of at least seven years.

It sparked conversation among the fans and analysts. Recently, SNY’s Connor Rogers discussed that matter on “The Mets Pod” and offered a blunt opinion. ” If Pete Alonso wants a seven-year deal, a six-year deal, probably even a five-year deal, I don’t think Pete Alonso is going to be back with the Mets. I don’t. That’s my opinion of what I think, not what they should or shouldn’t do, what I think,” Rogers said.

Referencing what happened last year, Rogers explained the reason. “I believe that there is no Major League team that will give out a seven-year deal in this era to an aging, right-handed, power-hitting first baseman that is a negative defensively,” Rogers explained. Last offseason’s talks were famously difficult, and at one point, owner Steve Cohen called the negotiation “exhausting” and “worse than Soto.” And considering Alonso’s defense, where he posted a negative Outs Above Average in both 2024 and 2025, it will surely affect his contract value.

Isn’t there any chance then? Rogers continued, “If this circles back to similar to last season, where he’s more in that three-year deal market, then I think Pete Alonso has a good chance of being back with the Mets.”   After a hectic talk and an unexpectedly cold free-agent market, Alonso was back with the Mets, signing a two-year, $54 million deal with an opt-out after one year. If that happens this time again, there’s a chance.

Pete Alonso’s free agency is more than a contract dispute — it’s a defining moment for both the player and the franchise. Since smashing a rookie-record 53 home runs in 2019 and winning NL Rookie of the Year, Alonso has been the face of the Mets, a consistent 40-homer threat and a homegrown fan favorite who embodies Queens baseball. That makes the current uncertainty sting even more, as the player once viewed as a lifelong Met now faces an unclear future.

The change in tone starts at the top. Under David Stearns and owner Steve Cohen, the Mets have shifted from big spending to smart building. Cohen’s new philosophy of “long-term discipline” explains why the team is hesitant to hand a seven-year deal to a soon-to-be 31-year-old slugger.

And the caution isn’t without precedent. Paul Goldschmidt’s deal worked because of elite defense and plate discipline, but José Abreu’s and Joey Votto’s long contracts quickly soured. Those lessons hang over Alonso’s negotiations — a reminder that even a franchise cornerstone isn’t immune to baseball’s cold, analytical reality.

But after playing all 162 games for the second straight year with a slash line of .272/.347/.524 with 38 home runs and 126 RBIs, will Alonso agree on that? There’s a question..

Still, Rogers’ opinion reflects a league-wide trend

Teams are wary of long deals for one-dimensional first basemen. Players like Freddie Freeman and Matt Olson got huge contracts that Alonso is seeking, but they are elite defenders and left-handed hitters. Plus, Olson signed an extension at age 27 that covers his prime years. And Freeman, though older, signed his contract as a reigning World Series champion and recent MVP, and expected to be on the HOF ballot one day.

Now, if the Polar Bear’s contract demands push him out of the team, what is the Mets’ plan at first base? The most obvious solution is to move Mark Vientos from third base to first. This will be cost-effective and allows the team to spend its money on other pressing needs, like pitching. A more creative idea involves moving superstar Juan Soto to first base, according to SNY on-air analyst Hannah Rose Keyser. He struggles defensively in the outfield, and the switch could improve the team’s overall defense and keep his bat in the lineup.

If the Mets look outside the organization, the free agent market offers some intriguing possibilities. They could pursue another top-tier hitter like third baseman Alex Bregman or first baseman Josh Naylor from the market.  The Mets can also target a young slugger like Tyler Soderstrom from the Oakland Athletics. But the Alonso concern is not the Mets’ only offseason headache.

The Mets’ starting pitching rotation was their major weakness in 2025, and it requires an urgent complete rebuild. With some pitchers recovering from surgery and some coming off down years, the Mets must buy some players like Sandy Alcantara, Framber Valdez, or Shane Bieber if possible. The bullpen is another area that needs to be rebuilt. The top priority is re-signing star closer Edwin Diaz, who is expected to opt out of his contract. With Diaz, the team needs to add some high-leverage arms who can help the team besides him.