The New York Mets made waves this offseason by signing outfielder to a record-breaking $765 million contract. However, president of baseball operations David Stearns still faces the challenge of addressing the team’s first base situation. Could a reunion with homegrown All-Star slugger be in the cards?
MLB’s hot stove has been heating up ahead of the holidays, with several trades and free-agent signings, particularly at first base. Key moves include:
- Christian Walker signing a three-year, $60 million deal with the Houston Astros.
- The Arizona Diamondbacks acquiring Josh Naylor via trade.
- The Cleveland Guardians inking Carlos Santana to a one-year, $12 million deal.
- Paul Goldschmidt joining the New York Yankees on a one-year, $12.5 million deal.
- Nathaniel Lowe being traded to the Washington Nationals.
These transactions leave limited options for Alonso. While the Seattle Mariners might be a potential destination, the Mets have a clear need for a player who has been a star in their lineup since 2019.
“With Nathaniel Lowe heading to DC, Pete Alonso’s market further shrinks,” MLB.com’s Mets beat writer Anthony DiComo noted on X (formerly Twitter). “The Nationals, Yankees, Astros, Diamondbacks, and Guardians have all secured non-Alonso first basemen in recent days. The Mets remain the cleanest and most obvious fit. We’ll see how it plays out.”
Alonso’s agent, Scott Boras, is aiming for a $200 million contract, but the lack of a clear market may complicate negotiations. This situation could work in the Mets’ favor, especially after Alonso reportedly turned down a seven-year, $158 million extension in June 2023. While Spotrac projected a six-year, $174 million deal for Alonso at the start of the offseason, and Jon Heyman of the New York Post estimated a $152 million guarantee, recent developments suggest the slugger may settle for less.
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