The New York Mets re-signed Pete Alonso to a two-year, $54 million deal last offseason. However, his deal included an opt-out for next season.
Alonso had another All-Star year and is expected to test the open market again. He set a career high in batting average while hitting even more home runs than last year. He also led the National League with 41 doubles this season. He is one of the best free agents available, but there is one concern about signing him to a long-term deal.
Alonso will turn 31 next season, and hitters who rely on power like Alonso do not have the best track record as they age. Alonso has given teams reason to believe he can continue dominating, but teams were reluctant to give him a long-term deal after his previous All-Star campaign.
Alonso may be able to get a long-term deal this year, and Bleacher Report’s Tim Kelly predicts he will earn a five-year deal. However, the Mets may still not want to commit to him for that long.
“The Mets still feel like the best spot for Alonso, but last offseason he seemed to be more interested in them than they were in him,” wrote Kelly. “Now the franchise’s all-time leading home run hitter, Alonso will probably be less inclined to wait out the Mets this year. Set to turn 31 in December, he’ll also likely end up with a five-year deal.”
The Mets had every opportunity to sign Alonso to a long-term deal last offseason, and he would have been a lot cheaper than right now. However, if they were unwilling to commit last year, a five-year deal now that he is another year older may not entice the Mets.
The Mets do not have many great options at first base, but David Stearns is not the type to overpay for a player if their long-term outlook isn’t great. Maybe the Mets would likely be willing to sign Alonso to another short-term deal, but a five-year deal may be too much for the Mets.
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