Pete Alonso’s New York Loyalty Fades Away as Mets Scramble to Solve Major Woes, Per ESPN

It won’t be wrong to say that Pete Alonso was seen as an unmovable piece from the New York Mets roster. However, that changed last season, as everyone saw him drag his free agency for a hot minute, till he finally inked a two-year deal to stay with Steve Cohen and Co. But here is the twist—that contract came with a major advantage for Alonso, a player’s option. This means he can test the free agency this time around and get a bigger, better deal, too. And if you ask insiders, it seems like Alonso could very well be on the move.

And honestly, why wouldn’t he test the waters? The first baseman is having another great season, and he has proved that he is more than just a power bat. He is known for his home run pop, but this season, he is looking like a complete hitter.

Through 139 games, he has posted an .869 OPS and even raised his batting average 30 points from last season. That improvement makes him a prime target for teams that are willing to hand him a deal, a long-term one. It’s something he didn’t find last season. And this is where the problem lies for the New York Mets.

So, Alonso’s success is a blessing for Queens, but it can straightaway price him right out of New York. Jeff Passan, in ESPN, put it bluntly, “This one’s a no-brainer. Alonso got $30 million to play this year and will forgo $24 million next year after his fourth career 30-homer, 100-RBI season. Will he opt out: Yes.” This is not just what Passan has mentioned; even FanSided’s Christopher Kline echoed the same sentiment.

For Kline, Mets president David Stearns is someone who leans heavily on analytics and not on player profiles. Kline mentioned, “If there was any market at all last winter, Alonso probably would’ve found a new home. After another excellent regular season, it feels like Alonso should enter a healthier marketplace this go-around.” But the bigger question is what happens when the Mets lose him? Replacing him sure is not a simple task, and it would be a gut punch not just for the offensive section but also the fan base.

Still, Cohen does have deep pockets, and he could chase a young and more polished player, but that honestly might not soften the blow of removing one of the franchise’s most beloved players. For now, Alonso is orange and blue, but when the off-season comes, he could be in pinstripes too.

Is Pete Alonso headed to the Bronx?

Pete Alonso will be the gem of the off-season for sure. And given that he doesn’t sign an extension and heads to free agency, there is a possibility that he would join the New York Yankees. And this isn’t the first time that Yanks has been connected to him. Last season, too, he was on the Brinx radar; however, because of some questions about his performances, the Yankees chose Paul Goldschmidt instead.

This time around, though, questions are out of the picture, given Alonso has been lights out for the Mets. Suddenly, the “Polar Bear” looks like one of the best bats available. And yet again, Jon Heyman says that the Yankees could be in the mix again. During a recent Bleacher Report live stream, Heyman said the Yankees are a “potential [team] for Alonso.” He also pointed out the end of Goldschmidt’s contract and highlighted the Florida connection with Hal Steinbrenner. But make no mistake, there are other teams expected to approach Polar Bear, too, like the Rangers, Red Sox, Mariners, and Astros. Last season, Alonso had even rejected the Blue Jays offer, even though they offered more.

Of course, Mets fans don’t want to hear this. Alonso has been here 6+ years, and his fit behind Juan Soto in the lineup is making perfect sense. Heyman himself said that the Mets remain Pete Alonso’s best landing spot. But then, loyalty only goes so far, and when big contracts are on the table, one does think it over. Last season, Juan Soto made his way to the Mets, and now it seems like the Yanks might snatch Alonso right from under their nose. For the Mets, this off-season might be nerve-wracking because not just Alonso but even closer Edwin Diaz might opt out. Steve Cohen has the money to keep both of them stars, but the real question is whether the front office will pay for an aging first baseman and a one-inning reliever. What do you think?