Talks between the Mets and Pete Alonso’s brokers on the Boras Company seemingly hit an deadlock final week, as stories emerged that the Mets expected Alonso to signal elsewhere after the 2 sides every rejected the opposite’s contract affords. Workforce proprietor Steve Cohen and president of baseball operations David Stearns every addressed the state of affairs on the “Amazin’ Day” fan occasion this weekend at Citi Discipline, with Cohen reinforcing the concept that the door isn’t closed on an Alonso reunion, however the probabilities of an settlement seem diminished.
“We made a big supply to Pete,” Cohen informed followers and media, together with The Athletic’s Will Sammon. Nonetheless, the proprietor doesn’t “just like the constructions which might be being introduced again to us. I feel it’s extremely uneven in opposition to us, and I really feel strongly about it. I’ll by no means say no, you recognize, there’s at all times the chance [of an agreement]. However the actuality is we’re shifting ahead, and as we proceed to herald gamers, the fact is it turns into more durable to suit Pete into what’s a really costly group of gamers that we have already got.
“And that’s the place we’re, and I’m being brutally trustworthy. I don’t just like the negotiations. I don’t like what’s been introduced to us. Hear, perhaps that adjustments, and positively, I’ll at all times keep versatile. If it stays this manner, I feel we’re going to must get used to the truth that we could must go ahead with the prevailing gamers that we’ve got.”
The precise specifics of Scott Boras’ affords to the Mets aren’t recognized, although the idea floated was a three-year contract with at the least one opt-out clause, which might enable Alonso to check free company once more seemingly as early as subsequent offseason. The construction is just like the offers signed by different Boras shoppers like Matt Chapman, Cody Bellinger, Blake Snell and Jordan Montgomery final winter, which noticed the gamers every obtain a excessive common annual worth throughout the framework of these shorter-term contracts.
Studies indicated that the Mets’ countered the Alonso camp’s supply with a three-year deal (presumably nonetheless with opt-outs) value $68M-$70M, which might’ve given Alonso a tough AAV of $23M. Alonso and his reps rejected that provide and Sammon writes that the Mets then pulled the supply away totally, resulting in the present stalemate between the 2 sides. Based on Sammon, “It’s unknown if the Mets and Alonso have since re-engaged. So whether or not the door is open below related or completely different parameters stays a query.”
Whereas some gamesmanship may definitely have been at play in Cohen’s feedback, the Mets proprietor didn’t mince phrases in saying “personally, this has been an exhausting dialog and negotiation.” Cohen felt that the talks with Alonso had been “worse” than even the “powerful” negotiations with Juan Soto that resulted in Soto’s file $765M contract. Satirically, each Soto and Alonso are represented by Boras, however clearly the markets for each sluggers diverse vastly.
Even earlier than the offseason started, there was some sense that Alonso (as a power-centric first baseman with barely declining numbers over the past two seasons) may need to accept a shorter-term take care of decide outs, so the truth that the talks with the Mets have centered on such contracts isn’t a lot of a shock. What isn’t clear, nonetheless, is whether or not Alonso has different suitors prepared to supply extra years, or at the least larger common annual salaries. The Giants, Angels, Pink Sox and Blue Jays have all reportedly proven some curiosity in Alonso, with Toronto seemingly making the most recent push for the primary baseman.
By way of how the Mets may be trying past Alonso, Jesse Winker was re-signed final week, filling one other gap on the position-player facet. The New York Post’s Joel Sherman wrote that the Mets requested each Mark Vientos and Brett Baty to begin understanding at first base, with Baty additionally getting some reps as a second baseman.
Vientos has some expertise at first base already, and he was already locked into a daily spot in New York’s 2025 lineup whether or not as a 3rd baseman (if Alonso re-signed) or at first (if Alonso left and one other first base-only sort wasn’t obtained). Baty has performed virtually completely at third base throughout his 169-game MLB profession and within the minors, whereas spending a while at second base and in left discipline within the minors. He has by no means performed first base on the skilled stage, with Baty telling Sammon that he final performed the place when he was a highschool sophomore.
However, Baty views the problem as “actually enjoyable….I’ve at all times prided myself on being as athletic as I might be. And I feel athleticism, you’ll be able to present it off at any place whether or not or not it’s first base, second base, third base, the outfield, no matter it’s.”
With a .215/.282/.325 slash line over 602 plate appearances on the MLB stage, Baty has but to determine himself over components of three seasons within the Present, so including positional flexibility is at the least a great way for the previous high prospect to assist his probabilities of making the roster. Between Baty, Luisangel Acuna and Ronny Mauricio, the Mets may let these children compete for enjoying time at third base, ideally with one stepping as much as tackle the common beginning job. If none are prepared for prime time, the Mets may pursue a nook infielder of some sort on the commerce deadline, with Vientos maybe shifting from first to 3rd base relying on who New York would possibly receive.
