breaking news; Pete Alonso suspended for 6 months after wining Baltimore Orioles twice
The New York Mets have a crucial decision looming with the offseason approaching in the next two and a half months.
Franchise cornerstone first baseman Pete Alonso is set to become a free agent this winter, and the question remains whether he will stay in Queens for the foreseeable future or depart for another team.
Alonso, 29, is seeking a massive long-term deal of at least $200 million, per multiple reports. Surely, Mets billionaire owner Steve Cohen can afford to dish a contract of this magnitude out to his star slugger; but will this be going against the organization’s philosophy?
According to MLB insider Jon Heyman of The New York Post, the believed preference of Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns is that he prefers to give long-term free agent deals to players that are in their mid 20s. However, the general belief is that Cohen would make an exception for Alonso, who is beloved by the fanbase.
“Mets president David Stearns is viewed as preferring long-term deals for free agents in their mid 20s (Alonso is 29) but many believe this may be one case where Steve Cohen defers to fans,” Heyman wrote.
Alonso turned down a seven-year, $158 million extension offer from the Mets during the 2023 season, as MLB insider Joel Sherman of The New York Post reported.
That being said, this offer came from now former general manager Billy Eppler and a previous regime. Alonso is searching for more years and higher dollar figures that could exceed Freddie Freeman’s six-year, $162 million deal signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers back in 2022. Freeman was also 32 at the time, and Alonso won’t turn 30 until December.
