Earlier this week, New York Mets legend and former membership captain David Wright mentioned that he hoped first baseman Pete Alonso would not “lose sight of” how particular staying with one membership all through a profession may be for any participant.
New York Giants icon Tiki Barber is aware of somewhat one thing about that, and he supplied recommendation to Alonso because the 30-year-old stays a free agent who seemingly is not all that near both returning to the Mets or signing with a distinct staff.
“I virtually really feel like Pete Alonso…he must take the hometown low cost like David Wright mentioned,” Barber defined throughout Thursday’s version of the WFAN afternoon present, Audacy’s Ryan Chichester shared. “I do know this from private expertise. I wasn’t a extremely sought-after free agent…however innately, I knew I couldn’t go away New York. I hadn’t performed sufficient but.”
The Giants drafted Barber in 1997, and he finally performed just for Large Blue till he retired after the 2006 season. Equally, Alonso is a so-called “homegrown Met” who was drafted by the franchise and who so far has performed just for the Amazins throughout his MLB profession.
Varying reports have claimed that agent Scott Boras is searching for something between a six- and nine-year contract that would, relying on its size, be price over $200M in assured cash. Nevertheless, quite a few golf equipment have already addressed first base by way of different strikes this offseason, and it is extensively believed Alonso should accept a short-term deal that features a number of opt-outs.
Based on Bridget Hyland of NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, former Miami Marlins president and present sports activities enterprise insider David Samson urged on a current episode of his podcast that Boras was basically utilizing media contacts in an try to make Mets proprietor Steve Cohen imagine “that one other staff goes to signal Alonso and go away him with nothing” this offseason. Barber warned that Alonso ought to take into consideration extra than simply monetary safety at this profession stage.
“How are the Mets going to recollect him? As somebody who jilted them when he had an opportunity to make some cash and fired his agent to rent Scott Boras, and held everyone hostage till he received essentially the most cash he presumably might?” Barber mentioned.
Alonso is already a beloved fan-favorite who hit probably the most dramatic postseason home runs in Mets historical past and can turn into the franchise’s all-time chief in career homers if he returns. Whereas Alonso has loads of time to chase a giant contract earlier than spring coaching begins, Barber hinted that the “Polar Bear” must see the writing on the wall concerning what’s on the market for him on the open market.
“I believe in some unspecified time in the future,” Barber added, “Pete goes to should decide on whether or not that is about Scott Boras or Pete Alonso and what his model and legacy is, particularly if he stays with the Mets.”
Maybe the largest concern for Mets followers who need Alonso to re-sign is that staff president of baseball operations David Stearns might finally pivot and go in a distinct path to search out wanted lineup safety for All-Star outfielder Juan Soto. The Mets presumably would welcome Alonso again at their value, however whether or not or not the 2 sides can agree on that value earlier than Opening Day is unknown.
