Philly Front Office

Pete Alonso stays with the only team he could ever be on for at least one more year. The wispy haired, super-duper serious slugger returns to Queens on a 2-year, $54m deal. That’s $30m this season with a player option for year 2. The narrative will be that Alonso is betting on himself, but we all know his wife just told him she wants an open relationship, and he is telling everyone they made the decision together.

Less than 2 years ago Alonso turned down a 7 year, $158m extension, trying to squeeze out more money than Matt Olson and Freddy Freeman. Unfortunately for Pete, the Mets have changed a lot since then. David Stearns is now running the show and despite infinite money at his disposal, he is not throwing it around on just anyone. He very clearly has eyes on someone else.

Entering the winter, I wrote that Alonso would not see the type of market that he was expecting much like Alex Bregman. There just are not that many suiters for power-only first basemen with declining stats. Still, Alonso held out hope he would return to Queens on at least a reasonable contract. After all, they loved him, right? Didn’t they just have a dream season together? MLB Trade Rumors predicted he would get a 5 year $125m contract, just not from the Mets. Alonso would have jumped at that contract. The offer didn’t come. He entertained offers from the Blue Jays apparently, but something was not to his liking, I guess (probably heavily deferred like Santander). Would the Mets offer him 3/$90m? 3/$75? He ended up taking a front loaded 2-year contract.

What happened? I might think he’s a giant cornball dufus, but I’m a Phillies fan. Mets fans love him. They just had a great season where he hit the series winning homer in round 1. You would have to think keeping a good vibes, 40-homer guy like Alonso around would be a no-brainer. They are very obviously lusting another first baseman and did not want to commit long term to someone with whom they don’t see a future.

That person is Vlad Guerrero Jr. Vladdy apparently turned down a $340m extension offer from Toronto. He is a 26-year-old triple crown threat coming off one of his best seasons. He is probably aiming for a $500m contract. If Toronto doesn’t want to give it to him, Steve Cohen will be happy to do so. A line-up of Lindor, Soto, and Guerrero is about as fearsome as it gets. If you were wondering why the Mets didn’t really pursue Anthony Santander and his 40+ homer potential either, Vladdy is the reason (they will pivot to Kyle Tucker if Toronto gives in).

From all accounts, Alonso is a terrific guy who just wants everyone to know that baseball means everything to him. The Mets are playing with fire here in low balling him. On paper it makes total sense, but baseball isn’t played on paper. Alonso and the rest of the players know that Pete is only still there this season because Stearns is waiting to pounce on Vladdy once his divorce is final in Toronto. Alonso had nowhere else to go. He will try to play the role of happy husband hitting dingers, but his confidence has to be shot. I actually feel bad for the guy.