As the Mets watched one stalwart depart in free agency this morning, they’re faced with the possibility of another. Longtime first baseman Pete Alonso is at the Winter Meetings in Orlando, sitting down with interested teams as he tests the free agent market for a second straight offseason. (Alonso opted out of the second season of a two-year deal with the Mets last month.) Many Mets fans are hoping, particularly with Edwin Diaz headed to Los Angeles, that a new deal with Alonso is in the cards. MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand casts some doubt on that likelihood, reporting that the Mets may be “hesitant” to stretch beyond three guaranteed years to re-sign Alonso.
It’s a familiar scene. The Mets wound up re-signing Alonso last offseason after he rejected their qualifying offer, but only on a two-year contract that allowed him to return to the market this winter via an opt-out. The Mets never seemed keen on giving Alonso the long-term deal he sought following the 2024 season, and that apparently hasn’t changed much a year later.
Alonso is coming off a better season at the plate this time around than he was in 2024, but he’s (of course) also a year older. A three-year deal would cover his age-31 through age-33 seasons. That’s not all that deep into his potential decline years, but while Alonso enjoyed a small decrease in strikeouts and uptick in batted-ball quality, he also saw his already poor defensive grades dip even further. Defensive Runs Saved and Statcast’s Outs Above Average both dinged him at minus-9. Alonso is open to more DH time moving forward, but that apparently doesn’t make the team all that eager to lock Alonso in for his age-34 season or later.
Looking more generally at the current MLB landscape, the market simply hasn’t compensated first-base-only players with middling OBP skills much in recent years, regardless of power output. Alonso is an extreme version of that skill set — one of the most consistent power bats on the planet — but he typically walks at a 9-10% clip and posts an on-base percentage at or slightly above league-average. Defensive acumen and plate discipline can often boost a player’s floor in the eyes of modern evaluators; given that Alonso doesn’t stand out in either regard, there’s likely some real worry (from the Mets and other suitors) that an eventual decline could be precipitous in nature.
Any reluctance on stretching longer-term doesn’t (or at least shouldn’t) stem from payroll concerns. The Mets’ payroll, while enormous, actually begins to open up in the not-too-distant future. They’re currently projected for $278MM in payroll and CBT obligations next season, per RosterResource. That drops to about a $176MM in roster allocations in 2027 (and $181MM in CBT obligations), and by the time we get out to 2028, they “only” have about $134MM on the books. Beginning in 2029, Juan Soto and Francisco Lindor are the only players guaranteed anything.
Today’s report doesn’t expressly rule out a reunion between Alonso and the Mets, but it’s long seemed that if the Mets were interested in signing Alonso to a true long-term contract, it’d have happened last offseason. The fact that it didn’t and that they’re again looking short-term this winter implies that if Alonso is to return to Queens, it’s likelier to happen later in the offseason — after other suitors have spent their money elsewhere, creating a similar set of circumstances to those that paved the way for the two parties’ previous reunion.
Deja vu.
All over again!
Well Kyle a DH just got 5. Wonder if the pirates turn to him with their 4 year offer
He won’t take it. He’ll take less from the Sox.
Could be the Sox too
But do the White Sox really need him at this point?
Think he was talking red sox
I know Steven. A little ribbing on my part.
It’s funny when fans of either team just say Sox like their team is the only one with Sox in the name.
Ok good one😉
Well the “Sox” are in Chicago. Even though they are a disgrace to MLB. But the logo says “Sox” so that should be respected. Just because blow hards at ESPN like Dave Berman in the past and other east coast biased clowns called Boston the SOX doesn’t mean that it’s accurate.
Pirates should go after him. Him being available is likely why they didn’t go 6 years on Schwarber. That and 175m
Kyle is a better hitter than alonso. Neither brings glove value, so Pete’s willingness to slide to dh abs just mitigates a negative, doesnt add a positive
This past year a 150 OPS+ vs a 144. I wouldn’t call that much better
FG wRC+ projections 2026
Schwarber 131
Alonso 126
They are comparable. Schwarber was in a more hitter-friendly park as well.
I mean you’re wrong. Pete has a higher average, slugging, OPS, OPS+. Kyle leads in all the counting stats because he has played longer. Not to mention the fact Schwarber is older. If im dishing out a 5 year contract I’m giving it to Pete over Schwarber 10 times out of 10.
That is a mistake, good you aren’t a GM
Echo Dboi’s comments, Kyle has played almost 2 more full seasons that Alonso, if they had the same amount games played and ABs it would go to Petey boi all day long…sports-reference.com/stathead/tiny/in6l9
To be clear, I prefer Alonso to Schwarber as well. I’m not down on Alonso’s glove the way others are either. I think he’s solid on defense and he runs hard on the bases, and that’s valuable imho.
1B is the least important position on the spectrum. It’s why a team like my brewers who prioritize defense will use negative defenders over there. As long as my guy can pick balls on hard throws I’m good
Maybe Cincy will make him a four year offer. 🤣
Hey they were supposedly in on Kyle too
Defense is unimportant at any position until key mistakes are made.
Pete brings amazing glove value vs someone who is a dh. He’s a fine 1b
Metrics would say otherwise which is why stats like WAR and others can be misleading when it comes to 1B. Pete is pretty good at picking balls at 1st
Range is nice and hurts his stats but he just needs to pick throws and hit hrs. Not taking up the dh is his value
Exactly. The reason the WAR is like 2 lower than Kyle is cause Kyle doesn’t have negative fielding lowering his WAR which is why I said it can be misleading. That’s not what he needs to do tho I agree
Schwarber does have negative fielding hampering his value
The positional adjustment.
He starts off with a negative 17.5
Juan, is that lifetime negative?
Per 1350 innings (150 games times 9 innings)
Not exactly sure how that works for a DH. He had -17 last year
That’s super confusing. I think you’re pulling the wrong stat.
Considering he only played 8 games in left field last year if hard to see -17 Drs in 2925
People think 1B defense is unimportant until they have a butcher at the position. St. Louis Cardinals had an atrocious infield defense until they brought Goldschmidt in. His addition as a premium defender at 1B was key in transforming them into an elite infield defense in 2019.
ADF
“That’s super confusing. I think you’re pulling the wrong stat.
Considering he only played 8 games in left field last year if hard to see -17 Drs in 2925”
I mean the positional adjustment. Which is part of defense
Gotcha. I honestly don’t go that far into the stats, and rely on others to talk about it if it’s necessary lol.
As the Phillies fan, I’m shocked that the Phillies spent this much money to bring back Kyle. In the end, it’s gonna hurt them unless they can still bring in that power right handed bat that they really need.
Still got time
When is David Stearns going to realize you have to come off this 3 years crap if you want access to the top echelon of the market? The way he is running things makes no sense. You can’t run a franchise on metrics alone. We saw that with his starting staff last season.
To be fair he was right about the market last year.This year tho he’s pushing his luck big time
What are you taking about? They just signed Soto a year ago.
The market for alonso
Willis-Stearns is talking about “run prevention”. Apparently that doesn’t apply to the 9th inning anymore. That’s what I’m talking about. I’m talking about his philosophy of not signing pitchers to any more than 3 years. Soto is one player. What you put around him is going to affect how he performs over the next 14 years, if he doesn’t get aggravated, and opt out. With that said, most of us can’t see how letting Diaz go, and possibly losing Alonso helps the team. That is what I’m talking about.
That was Cohen’s signing. Not Stearns. Cohen laid all the groundwork terms with Boras and led the talks. I don’t think Stearns wanted to offer the years and money.
But that doesn’t matter. What matters is that now that we have Soto, we need to put a good team around him, and letting go of 9th inning run prevention, and 38 hr’s/126RBI’s isn’t a good start.
Agree, but outside of Relievers you aren’t getting top Players for 3 year deals or less. He should load up on the best Relievers and build a Super Pen. I guess sign Suarez and Fairbanks and resign Rogers to three year deals and hope having the best Pen in MLB makes a difference.lol
Stearns also is leery of Pete because of his below average D. Stearns made the dopey comment “we have to improve or D”. I guess the 38 HR’s and 126 RBI’s are second priority to Pete’s D. He’s a F’n dope. Now that Schwarber signed Pete’s the best Power Bat left on the Market. Unless he signs two of Tucker, Bellinger, and Okamato he isn’t making up those Pete 2026 numbers and putting a good team around Soto. But they all require more than 3 year deals so expect Hoskins at 1st, Vientos at DH, and Conforto in LF. He can get Hoskins and Conforto to those low year deals he likes. lol
You may not be that far off.
As Andrew Friedman once said: “If you’re always rational about every free agent, you will finish third on every free agent.”
That said…. I’m not sure Alonso is the hill to die on, here.
OK. Suggest to me where the Mets go to replace 38 HR’s, and 126 RBI’s?
You’re right. Aging, one-dimensional players are irreplaceable.
But you can’t think of one that’s available right now, can you?
Mark Vientos could conceivably give you a 105-110 wRC+ season with 20+ home runs, an on-base close to .300 if you generously round up, and only slightly worse defense. That’s not a good player but for someone like Stearns, that’s a much better value proposition than Pete.
Fwiw I don’t think they’ll just stick Vientos there but I don’t think they’ll even entertain getting someone more capable than the player I just described. Stearns is more than willing to fail with Tellez, Vogelbach, Smoak if it means finding the next Eric Thames eventually
95mph…Stearns is talking run prevention. If he doesn’t like Pete in that aspect of the game, he really doesn’t like Vientos. Vientos isn’t a good fielder at all, at any position. As far as his bat is concerned, was it the sophmore slump that got him, or was that 2024 season a fluke? I don’t know, but we all expect Vientos to be traded this off season.
No, I can’t think of an expensive, aging, one-dimensional player the Mets should target.
Vegas-Thank you for showing us all how much you know about this game. Much appreciated.
Generously round up by 100 points maybe. Vientos was horrible last season. What makes you think he is gonna rebound and put up anywhere near Alonso’s level of production? A wish and a prayer?
He signed a guy to a 15 year contract last year.
Justkidding – Steve Cohen signed BOTH Soto and Alonso last year. The owner did, and in the case of Alonso, over the objections of Stearns.
Well then Stever Cohen just let Edwin Diaz walk
After they got Williams.
justkidding – did Stearns have the ability to give Soto a Luxury Suite and private flights for his family? Did Stearns fly to Alonso’s house and get his signature on a contract? the answer is no in both cases.
That doesnt mean that Cohen is about to make every single baseball move on the roster. If so he could just go the Jerry Jones route and be his own GM.
Stearns will make small market spreadsheet analytic moves now…….and when the Mets miss the playoffs again, he’ll be fired
After they got Williams…………EXACTLY
Now Stearns can tell all the other IVY League grads, “look guys, i saved $7m on my closer”
hahahahaha
congratulations, your owner is the richest man in the sport
The Mets (and their fans) are the team you go out and buy popcorn to watch on and off the field for entertainment.
It’s been fascinating the last couple years.
100%
I’m sure Cohen isn’t thrilled about Diaz leaving. Especially knowing he signed for 3 years. If Stearns offers 3 years $75-80 M he may have stayed. Cohen would have no issue with that. If Stearns is max on three years for Pete, Cohen may step in again like he did last year. I think Cohen is learning he signed a risk management PBO and not a great aggressive baseball PBO like Friedman. Stearns belongs on a mid Market Team like the Brewers. Where he can get the most for his dollars without taking risks.
Kenny – You are exactly right!
Stearns has a spreadsheet somewhere that says Williams is just as good as Diaz…….AND I SAVED $7m!!!!
Great post Sad Sox!!!! Thanks for laying out the truth to the Stearns suck ups. Cohen was also the driving force and laid the groundwork for the Yama and Roki offers. The best PBO in MLB Friedman just outbid Cohen. I’d kill to have Friedman as the Mets PBO.
Just read that the Reds offered Schwarber 5 years $125 and Pirates 4 years at $120. Don’t be surprised if those two teams make Pete similar offers and years and he signs with one of those two teams. Especially when Stearns best offer will be 3 years $85-90 M. Cohen’s head will explode if that happens
So you sign one guy to a 15 year contract, and then you get to cheap on everyone else? What was the point in signing Soto if you weren’t going to keep, and build what’s around him?
Jdt8312 – As a Red Sox fan we have been living with analytics nerds with their spreadsheets running the club since 2018.
They ran JD Martinez, Mookie Betts and Rafael Devers (among others) out of town.
Sterns let Corbin Burnes, Josh Hader, et al leave the Brewers. But traded for Rowdy Tellez and resigned him twice.
Its infuriating!!!!!!!!!
@jdt
(clap, clap, clap). who buys a Maybach and then slaps used tires, pinetree air freshener and cheap floor mats in it. I’m sure that mngmt sold Soto and Boras on a promise that the team would spend, spend and spend too put the best team in the field to maximize ops to win a chip in his prime years.
Actually the Red Sox became analytics based in 2002 when Theo was hired, laying the ground work for 4 Championships. I a, sure you made fun of his Ivy league pedigree while you were at those parades and banner ceremonies on opening day.
Knicksfan…I do remember last year that Soto was asking about the Mets farm system. I’m exactly sure why, but that was a thing they were concerned with during negotiations. But even with that said, that run production needs to be replaced if they aren’t going to sign Pete, and I don’t see how. You can’t preach run prevention, and then cost your team run production when you only won 83 games to start with.
Sad Sox….You ain’t lyin’ brother.
justkidding – if you ask Buck Showalter GM’s and Managers were using analytics in the 1980’s. The turning point is when common sense goes away, your eyes are not to be believed and analysts replace scouts.
Theo would NEVER let Big Papi walk away, even though Ortiz asked him to. Dave Dombrowski spent money like crazy and traded prospects.
Stearns is ushering Alonso out the door. The two are not comparable.
Stearns is choking on the pressure of a big market team and fanbase. Here comes the Vientos/Rowdy Tellez platoon at first base
I hope our catchers get their cardio in this off season. They’d be hustling trying to keep errant throws from getting into the dugout.
aaaaand say bye bye to alonso mets fans
I feel like Stearns has earned the benefit here. We signed the best FA available in quite a while last off-season. If Pete goes, it won’t be because they got outbid.
Soto wasn’t Stearns, that was Cohen stepping up and winning a bidding war.
Thanks for the insider information Fred
If Cohen was willing to have an infinite payroll then Stearns would gladly hand out as much money as Diaz or Alonso wants, however it is clear that he is operating under a budget.
Especially now that he got approved for his casino, the only reason he bought the team in the first place. They’ll be a regular big market team like the Cubs and Red Sox, just stupider.
@just
I don’t know Cohen personally but I think I get his personality. He’s an avid art collector. He likes to collect things. He’s spend $115 mil on one piece of art and then spends $150 mil on another. Soto is his Picasso. He told Boras “Come back to me with your best offer before you sign and I’ll beat it”. Yanks realized that no matter what they offered, Boras was going to take their offer to Cohen and he’d beat it. There’s no way you’re going to get me to think that a) he’s not committed to win a WS chip he can add to his collection of “cool things to display” or that he would spend $750 mil on a player and not be committed to surrounding him with the best his money could buy.
All the good signings were Cohen and bad signings were Stearns being cheap, got it
Schmets – can you prove otherwise? Do you think Cohen was like., “Dave, we gotta get out there and sign Frankie Montas”?
Stearns has said with both words and deeds that he doesnt value the power offense that Alonso provides. He wants run prevention and athleticism. He wont go past three years.
Ivdon’t follow the logic that bc he hasn’t handed out a 3 year contract in his first 2 years here he’s obviously A) scared B) confused and still thinks he’s in Milwaukee.
That’s just straight up BS.
Nobody on this sub ever [read: NEVER EVER] considers timing. He’s not going to sign expensive free agents before the organization is producing quality players.
There’s a time and a place to sign expensive FAs and its not 2 years into a complete organizational overhaul, it’s after your overhaul has you consistently producing MLB quality players.
Everyone here is impatient and acting like bc we didn’t win in 2025 we never will.
Spoiler: good things take time.
OK, well I hope that makes sense to Soto and Lindor because you didn’t convince me
If the first year of a 15 year deal isn’t the best year of the overall deal then Soto is pissed? What?
You really think they didn’t have that strategy meeting before giving him 3/4 of a billion dollars?
Sad Sox- Actually he has said he thinks the HR is the most efficient way to score runs. He does like the power offense. He doesn’t like the contrast between Pete’s power offense production, and what his defense costs in runs not prevented.
The only way you can still give Stearns the benefit of the doubt is if you were in a coma for all of 2025. Honestly, that would’ve been more enjoyable than watching the team he put together
He wasn’t made POBO to win the 2025 WS
Schmets – your statement is 100% wrong.
You had an owner say we wanted to be in contention for World Series in 5 yrs. So, in year five you let your POBO strip it down?
You tear down your homegrown star for “run prevention” but let the argueably best 9th inning run stopper in baseball leave to save $7m bucks…..
then the owners are right, fans are nothing but sheep to be fleeced over and over
Your statement is completely wrong.
David Stearns isn’t beholden to some fugazi deadline an arrogant billionaire made while boasting, years before he was ever a member of the franchise.
You think Cohen brought him in and was like “OMG I only have 2 years left! I’m so nervous! Help me, quick!!!”
Lmao.
Stearns was brought in to build the best team for future years, not just his first 2 seasons. He’s doing that.
I dislike more than a few of his moves but overall he’s doing OK. I DO wish he’d consider the optics every once in a while but he seems to not give an F.
They didn’t “let Diaz go to save 7m bucks”. They made an offer, dodgers countered and Diaz signed. He didn’t give Mets chance to counter.
What you talking ’bout Willis? He signed Frankie Montas last year too……..
Exactly proving even a 2 year deal for Montas can be a waste of $34 M. People site him not offering Barnes the big deal because he got injured. Wouldn’t be surprised if Barnes comes back strong this year and finishes that contract fairly healthy and good. Almost every Pitcher has one serious injury in their career. I bet a third of the Pitchers in Baseball that are at least 28+ have had a TJ surgery. Which hurts for a year but most come back to be the same or better pitcher than they were. Every Pitcher is a risk.
How long is quite a while for you? A year?
Cohen signed Soto not Stearns
“Cohen signed Soto not Stearns”
Nonsense
With both Alonso and Soto in the daily lineup, the Mets will have to outhit their bad defense.
Thought they already had that covered when they dumped one of their only productive hitters left for a 35-year old glove only 2B with a bad foot.
@95mpnslider: “Thought they already had that covered when they dumped one of their only productive hitters left for a 35-year old glove only 2B with a bad foot.”
What a ludicrous assessment of that trade. Especially when you’re calling out Semien’s ‘bad foot’ while completely ignoring Nimmo’s. . .bad foot and legs. And Semien’s age of 35 while ignoring Nimmo’s age 33.
Nimmo has bad range, a horrendous arm, and while still productive offensively, his offense is declining. Also owed $100 million over the next five years. Worth 5.1 bWAR and 5.8 fWAR over the last two years combined.
Both teams got what they wanted out of the deal. To characterize it in the way you are is crazy.
I agree that the Mets got what they wanted out of that deal. The fact that what they wanted is a 35 year old who hit .230/.305/.364 before a season ending injury in August is why I want the Mets front office fired into the sun.
Alonso is just fine at 1B!! That’s why he is there!
They need another strong outfielder – should be going after Tucker.
However I think Stearns is in the midst of destroying the ballclub just like he did in Milwaukee. Only this is more of an unforgivable act since the Mets organization has no real payroll issues. Guys a clown and should be tarred and feathered.
Worst big market GM in the game and it isn’t even close.
Stearns is the worst GM in the game in any market, and probably in any sport
They should just call him “3 year deal” Stearns. He can keep offering 3 year deals max but almost all other Teams will go 4 or beyond for the top FA’s. Cohen was the one who wanted Soto, met with him, and laid the groundwork. Cohen was also the one who led the charge and offering long term deals to Yama and Roki. It wasn’t Stearns. I can’t remember the last 4 year deal that Stearns has offered a Player. Stearns is a frugal PBO that’s more worried about injuries than getting the best FA’s. He’d rather sign a Montas, Manaea, Winker, Taylor, etc. than a Tucker, Valdez, Bellinger, and really any of the top 20 MLB FA’s as they’ll all demand 4 year deals or more.
Guess what Stearns no GM wants to sign long term deals for players and the risks that come with it. But if you want the best FA’s you have to. Players aren’t saying I’ll take a 3 year deal to play with the Mets because it’s NY instead of taking 4-7 year deals to play anywhere else.
I was leery when Cohen hired him. He would’ve been the perfect GM for the old Mets Owners the Coupons. I mean Wilpons. They love the low years/lowball contract FA offers. He’s a perfect GM for a mid size Market like the Brewers but he forgets he’s in NY. I’d rather Cohen be the GM and get a Baseball guru who advises him yea or no on Players and let Cohen offer the contact terms (years and money). I look forward to Hoskins or Vientos at 1st instead of Pete. What a F Up.
Totally agree. Everyone always thought that Stearns was this great GM because he got a small market team to the playoffs consistently. But they only actually got far into the playoffs once, and that was with one team that had a fair amount of stars on their offense.
He knew how to build a team that could make it to the playoffs. But he never seemed to know how to build a team that could win the playoffs.
Worse than Cashman?
I know you Yankee Fans complain about Cashman, but he’s got a lot of Rings! Stearns can’t say the same thing. I’d love Friedman for the Mets but Cashman isn’t as bad as you spoiled Yankee fans make him out to be. lol.
I actually met Cashman when my old Boss arranged a tour of the old Yankee Stadium, and he was a nice guy. I said to him even though I’m a Mets fan kudos for the job tou’ve done. He said to me about being a Mets fan “we all have or faults. Then says just kidding you guys are building a good Team over there”. Good guy.
Yeah, he’s gone.
When all is said and done, NYM could well have a strong roster for 2026. But yeesh right now the villagers are ready to get out the torches and burn Stearns at the stake
Who cares what the Mets willing to do? Does Pete really want to leave New York. I’m thinking no way.
Alonso is not staying in NY on a 3 yr deal cause if he does, he is a fool.
There aren’t enough players on the trade block for them to put together even a .500 roster this offseason. They have no pitching, no lineup, and no desire to give anyone who would change that with any degree of certainty the years it would take.
Because of Stearns, Francisco Lindor will never play another playoff game in his prime and he deserves all the hate in the world for that alone.
Alonso is younger than Schwarber, with more WAR in nearly 300 fewer games played. Yes, they both have defensive limitations. Yes, both have long-term durability concerns. Yes, there’s the left/right batting difference. But, why does one guy get treated like a superstar while the other seems to be treated like a street urchin?
One has DD and one has DS.
I think it has more to do with how their respective clubs valued them. Philadelphia sees the value in continuity in keeping Schwarber. Evidently New York does not share that sentiment, even though each player was similarly important to their respective teams.
Schwarber had his career year during his walk year. Alonso had his in his rookie year.
Sounds like Alonso will be playing home games at Fenway next year
Analytics has ruined baseball and has weakened the fans love for it.
Truth
Alonso has had *one* truly bad year and it was a lost year, early in his career- happens to almost every player at some point.
Otherwise he’s been reasonably consistent and productive- yet the Mets show no faith in him, are uncomfortable paying him, even though he comes through every year. It’s bizarre.
There are some players who seem to stumble through up and down, mediocre, average, some okay seasons and consistently get 5+ year contract offers at $20M+ per season and other players who are basically the same level of productive and they’re seen as a candidate to crater any year and struggle to get multi-year deals… meanwhile those same players in that second group often go year to year or two to three year deal to two to three year deal with the same overall years played at the same overall level of productivity as the guy who sashays into those four to six year deals throughout his career.
Perception being more valuable than reality in baseball is bizarre.
Lot of major contracts based largely on vibes.
He had a massive underperformance in his walk year, two years ago.
But it still wasn’t anywhere near atrocious/worthless. It was the kind of performance that guys still cruise into $20M+ a year deals with instead of $30M+ a year deals.
$10m difference a year is kind of a big bag to lose.
Agreed, it wasn’t an atrocious year, but he dropped the ball and that falls solely on Pete. That year coupled with his astronomical asking price that nobody wanted to pay, was the reason why he took the one year deal. He bounced back, but I’m still not sure he’s going to get the kind of deal he’s looking for.
I’m thinking he ends up in Boston now.
Why would he want to come back to the Mets? This team is cooked.
He’s not worth it. Alonso is a one trick pony and that trick is going to fade fast.
No other team will ever get the value from him like the Mets have. He should stay and become the most beloved icon for the future there. I’m sure every player wants Soto money, but being on a team that has him and perhaps winning it all is pretty darn good.
Wait, the Mets operating within reason??? I’d love to see the Mets follow in the Philly footsteps and overspend ala Schwarber. C’Mon, Mets! Show us that wallet like you did with Soto. What could possibly go wrong?
Soto is one of only three good players (and one of two who has played at least 10 MLB games) on their entire roster right now, despite spending more than $130m on starting pitching. There’s plan or reasoning going on here.
New York fans trying to run the guy out of town who was brought in to build the team from the minor leagues up after 2 years, one of which included a playoff series victory.
If they just admitted that 2024 was a fluke and that they have no intention of competing for anything for the next few years it would be easier to be patient. When you’re incapable of putting together a roster capable of winning more than 83 games with the core they had last year you don’t deserve patience. You deserve to be fired.
They gave Soto a 15-year contract, yet they can’t offer Pete more than 3 years? If I were Pete, I think I’d be pretty insulted…
what in the flying f are these god damn mets thinking??
We all know that the Mets will likely sign at least one of the following four players Alonso, Bregman, Munetaka and Okomoto. They are not signing Geno to replace Pete. I still see a Pete reunion as most likely.
Wouldn’t be the first time I’ve seen a Polar Bear in a Pirate hat…
LOL, what the…?!?
Gwynning
Why am I visualizing a pirate wearing a polar bear hat?
We need to hear about the first time. 😂
San Diego Zoo gets wild, fellas!
Mets saw a massive attendance upswing in ‘25 after signing Soto. Letting Alonso walk following last year’s 2nd half collapse could swing that back hard. Hard to imagine they’d make such a mistake but guess anything’s possible. Seems Cohen got caught up in his ego over the Alonso negotiations last year – hard feelings still?
Especially following today’s Díaz news.
Pete is NOT coming back! With Nimmo gone, McNeil on his way out the door, he has no buddies left on this team. He set his records, did his thing. He will be in Boston on Opening Day!
This might be the first real season in 50 years that I will not be watching. I’m completely over this team and Stearns can go fly a kite!
Stearns is dismantling the core. Cohen hired Stearns and is paying him $10 million a year to build a team with prospects and some free agents. It’s exactly what Frank Cashen did with the Mets during the early 80’s. Cohen has spend a lot of money and resources on building an elite minor league system. Now that the Mets have a conga line of pitchers and position players coming up, it’s time. to see what they have. The Mets paid the luxury tax for four consecutive years. They pay a 50% rate. They need to be under the tax threshold for one year, in order to rest the rate. It’s counter productive to be penalized on your draft pick due to the tax. The Mets will be over the threshold again, but they will have $70 million coming off next year. I believe the goal will be a $250 million payroll and a team full of prospects who will develop along with Soto and Lindor.
When the Mets traded Nimmo I felt it was the beginning of the end of the old guard. Now Diaz is gone, and they’re inexplicably probably going to try to stuff Pete again. Next McNeil will be traded for sure. Honestly even a Yankees fan, I hate seeing that identity go.
As a Mets fan of 40+ years, it’s been a very up and down love affair with my team. We are very loyal fans. To a fault, but we are nonetheless loyal, and we love our team. It’s not easy. Watching franchise players leave or get traded sucks. With that said, I hate Stearns. I don’t think he’s right for this team. This is not Milwaukee. You literally have all the resources at your fingertips. You have to learn to read the room. I know you have a job to do, but you are not just serving Cohen, you have an entire fan base that buys all the tickets, the hotdog, the beer, the parking, the merchandise…. If there are no fans, there are no teams. First you get rid of the most likable Met since David Wright, and you let the best closure in game leave to the worst coast doyers, and now you’re reluctant to give another fan favorite player an extra year or two? How clueless can you be?
He got his casino approved. He’s not clueless — he achieved everything he wanted.
@95mphslider
Exactly. What Stearns might want to do and what Cohen will allow him to do are two different things. It’s not Stearns’ money.
You’re 100 correct. Don’t quite understand what sterns is doing. He’s screwing up. They better get a front end starter as well
Dylan Cease got seven years. There’s literally no chance of them getting a front-line starter to agree to their 3 years or less policy. If one of the top guys doesn’t get what they want and has to settle for a Stearns friendly deal, they’ll take it from a team that actually as a shot of winning more than 80 games.
Based on the contract Schwarber just signed, bringing Alonso onto to a team for 7 years $210m would be a steal!
Okay Orioles, offer one more year and get it done so you can move on to pitching acquisitions.
Not going more than three years or willing to meet with him in person this week. They can’t have much of a shot. They have so many conditions they put on their relationship with Alonso.
Mack – welcome to the wonderful world of being subservient to the spreadsheet analytics nerds.
I can tell you from first hand experience, its no fun
7 more years of him playing everyday and he could very well go into HOF as a Met while never playing elsewhere. Good thing Dodgers don’t need a player for 1B or DH because they’d probably give him 8 year contract, if they had one of those spots open for the next couple years.
Pete should move on from the Mets. Come on Angels make a splash.
He’ll end up “settling” for 3/63 with the Pirates. 😂
Redsox will sign Bregman and Alonso
Sterns is going to screw around and find out he needs a DH anyways
And as a Mets fan, I am reluctant to go through another offseason with Sterns. He is trying to turn this team into the Milwaukee Mets.
The Mets position makes some sense, let’s see if they stick to it. Alonso is probably not a good gamble after three. He’s not the caliber of a Schwarber as an offensive force. And Alonso is 51st in OBP.
Pittsburgh could offer that 4th year. 4 years for 100 does Pete say no? Could even put some guaranteed money into a 5th year mutual/club/player option if they had to.
Or 6 years. They should be all over him like they were with Schwarber.
It’s clear the Mets just don’t want Alonso to return. Odd choice.
30 parks – I dont get it……Stearns does not believe in the power hitting first baseman. He traded for Rowdy Tellez and resigned him twice during his time in Milwaukee
Sad: just makes no sense – looks even worse after Schwarber got five years. Alonso will be Boston bound. Mets could screw up a free lunch – determined to fail.
But 15 years for Soto is a smart move…they are alienating all their own free agents!!!!
Phillies go 4 years and he plays first. Harper agrees to play RF.
Since Pittsburgh was willing to go 4 years for Schwarber, they should go 4 for Alonso. He will cost less too
David Stearns… the “Boy Doofus”. Are we really thinking Pete can’t be productive through his age 34 season?? Even if you don’t think so, when someone’s your dude like this guy is, you just do it. This is why we’re gonna allow a fan favorite and franchise icon walk?? I am honestly disgusted.
And to everyone “talking sense” to us Mets fans, keep in mind we watched Pete seemingly destroy Devin Williams psyche with that home run in the ‘24 postseason then watched that same formerly elite closer fail across town. And now we’re supposed to rationally be pleased that we signed said closer while allowing the best closer in the sport to go to the Dodgers….. WHILE letting Pete walk????
Anyone who’s a real sports fan of any team sees the problem with all of this. Disaster is imminent…
“May be hesitant….”, from a reporter, not from the Mets.
This guy is one of the best power hitters of his generation. I have never understood the lack of respect he commands. He’d be a great fit in Baltimore or Boston and could probably even overcome PNC Park’s shortcomings against right-handed sluggers. He and Lindor are the closest thing the Mets have to franchise icons on the current roster. I just don’t get it; this billionaire owner was going to empty his pickets and he hires a penny-pincher to run his team.
I don’t get it either. What more do you want from the guy? So he’s not Keith Hernandez or Don Mattingly at first base. Big freaking deal! He plays every game. He drives in runs. He hits Home runs. He’s a huge fan favorite. Pay the man and retire him as a Met! It’s all we want. Stop letting the nerds ruin the game. These are people that never played and all of a sudden they think they figured it out? lol
Mets article…an hour later over 100+ comments…..
Pouncing Tigers
Once he signs w/Boston he’ll cut a commercial for Polar seltzer.
Stearns copping the heat !
Big Steve is immune ? He wouldn’t be saying “Sorry Scotty. I’m not doing Soto gets the world again”
Mets lost a ton of money last year. Cohen is cutting back a bit it seems.
Pete’s gone. Idk where, but he won’t be in Queens in 2026.
Lets go Bucco’s, 4/120 for a nice bat sorely needed.
I honestly thought Mets fans were overreacting until I watched the MLB Network interview with David Stearns.
After watching interviews with many GMs from teams at the winter meetings, he stood out, in an unfortunate way.
His almost like he doesn’t realize he’s the gm of a big market team, and expects the team to operate like Milwaukee with a slightly higher payroll. It was fascinating to watch him explain his thought process.
Maybe he figures it out, but at this moment I have empathy for Mets fans. It feels like everything big has been pushed by the owner up to this point.
Haven’t seen it, but his Boss just burnt 350m. I’m thinking some conservative fiscal language might be a good way to go.
$350m? What did I miss?
There was a report mlb teams lost 1.8 billion combined in 2025. Mets led the show with 350m of it. A quick google search should lead you to it.
Unless they open the books it’s all guesswork.
Especially before the lockout next off-season. Have to start the narrative early.
Ha ha. Yep. That’s the popular fan response to that info. Fake news !
Hard to believe they just pulled those numbers out of the blue, but yeah, whatever.
If teams are losing money why are smart investment bankers and venture capitalist buying teams when they have a chance?
That’s the smart money, and they aren’t in the business of losing money. Literally.
Ha ha. When they have a chance ! That’s magnificent.
Like the white Sox opportunity ? Like the Angels opportunity ? Like the twins opportunity ?
Sure. Smart money everywhere just snapping up teams at every opportunity.
Seriously. Baseball fans. It’s like reality doesn’t exist.
You don’t invest in a team where you can’t control the team if they have a bad owner.
Unbelievable. Your words..
“If teams are losing money why are smart investment bankers and venture capitalist buying teams when they have the chance.”
Reality. They aren’t doing that.
Show me which franchises value have gone down that haven’t been run poorly or run into the ground.
Ha ha. Oh dear. Nah mate. I’m good. Feel free to take the W.
It’s not really a win lose conversation. Most owners shouldn’t cry poor if they aren’t.
Everyone is laying the groundwork for next off-season arguments, which is what they should be doing. I find it laughable when owners cry poor without proper public facing accounting.
Just like I find it funny when a multi millionaire acts line he can’t feed his family if he doesn’t get more on his next contract.
More fantasy over reality.
Investment bankers aren’t buying teams when they have the chance. Full stop.
Owners aren’t crying poor or saying they can’t feed their family. They are saying they don’t make profit on their team year to year. A report has indicated that league wide, they actually lose money. Full stop.
If you want to run with a reality that lives inside your head, go for your life. It’s not my problem.
The feed their family live was actually from pro athletes who were already multimillionaires when they said it.
I’ve never heard a team owner say anything remotely of that nature.