February 10, 2025

LINK TO ARTICLE: https://shuttersportsmedia.ca/newsletter/f/pete-alonso’s-free-agency-saga-is-finally-over

After what seemed like an eternity, the staredown between Pete Alonso and the New York Mets is over, and the Polar Bear is returning home this winter.

The Mets are in agreement with the star first baseman on a two-year, $54 million deal, including an opt-out after the 2025 season, per Andy Martino and Jeff Passan. Alonso’s deal includes a $10 million signing bonus and a $20 million salary for 2025, with a $24 million player option for 2026. 

With one of this offseason’s more drawn-out free agency sagas coming to a close, many fans are left wondering: What took so long? 

Alonso’s Market

Alonso and the Mets had been in serious contract talks since late December, when he was reportedly offered a three-year $90 million deal including opt-outs. This deal was declined, and Alonso’s agent, Scott Boras, indicated that he was seeking a contract in the range of $175-200 million. 

With the Houston Astros signing Christian Walker, the New York Yankees signing Paul Goldschmidt, the Washington Nationals acquiring Nathaniel Lowe, and the Arizona Diamondbacks receiving Josh Naylor, Alonso’s options were slowly declining. A return to the Mets seemed imminent, however, the two sides still could not strike a deal. 

Talks between Alonso and the Mets became stagnant, and Jon Heyman reported that there was a “sizeable gap” between the two’s contract expectations. Heyman also noted that it “doesn’t mean [Alonso] is gone,” but “no quick deal appears at hand.” 

As the new year began and the offseason progressed, more teams began to show interest in Alonso. It started with the Los Angeles Angels and the San Francisco Giants looking to add another big bat in a playoff pursuit. A few days later, the Toronto Blue Jays and the Boston Red Sox had also reportedly shown interest. 

Boras vs. Cohen

Boras had used the nine-year $214 million deal Prince Fielder signed before the 2012 season with the Detroit Tigers as a comparison for what Alonso should get, per Bob Nightengale. Alonso’s profile as a 30-year-old, right-handed hitting and throwing first baseman had teams hesitant to sign him, especially to a long-term deal, which was what Alonso was looking for.

“The issue with the Mets is the length of the deal,” reported Jon Heyman. “Right now we’re looking at Alonso wanting at least a six-year deal.” 

Two days later, SNY contributor Jim Duqette reported that Alonso’s camp had offered the Mets a three-year deal with opt-outs. The deal was exclusive to the Mets but failed to meet the desires of owner Steve Cohen and president of baseball operations David Stearns.

“Even in the wake of Jim’s reporting, there remains a gap that’s fairly significant between the Mets and Pete Alonso,” said Andy Martino. 

Many of the teams that demonstrated interest in Alonso had tapered off, except for one: the Toronto Blue Jays. Determined to reconfigure their roster throughout the offseason, the Jays had been shopping the free agent market and looking for power bats such as Pete Alonso and outfielder Anthony Santander. 

Andy Martino reported that the Mets had spoken with the Jays about a potential trade for first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr., though sources categorized those talks as “checking in.”

With Alonso’s future in Queens in jeopardy, Martino also reported that the Mets had “done significant work on other plans” in the event Alonso signed elsewhere. 

A Post-Alonso World

On January 16, Joel Sherman and Dan Martin reported that the Mets had made a “last-ditch effort” to sign Alonso, which was rejected. The deal was reportedly $68-$70 million and included deferred money, which was disagreed upon. 

The following day, the Mets agreed to a one-year, $8 million deal for Jesse Winker to return for the 2025 season. The deal signaled that the Mets had pivoted to an offseason plan that likely does not involve a deal to bring Alonso back, and many league sources stated that the Mets expected Alonso to sign elsewhere.

As a backup plan for Alonso, the Mets have told young infielders Mark Vientos and Brett Baty to work out at various infield positions, including first base, just in case.

The Jays, still “focused” on extending Guerrero Jr., per Bill Madden, were progressing in talks with Anthony Santander. On January 20, the Jays signed Santander to a five-year, $92.5 million deal, seemingly reducing the chances of an Alonso signing. 

However, just three days later, Andy Martino reported that contract talks between Alonso and the Jays were “advancing.” 

“I’m hearing they’re at the 10-yard line; these are all metaphors,” said Martino. “I know from experience that those last 10 yards can have a lot of obstacles before you get into the end zone. I’m not sitting here saying he’s going to become a Blue Jay, but that’s what’s going on with Pete.”

The Honest Truth

January 25 was Amazin’ Day, a Mets fan event hosted at Citi Field. With the hot topic being Pete Alonso’s free agency, players, coaches, and front office members fielded questions on Alonso throughout the day.

The most notable answer came from Steve Cohen, during a Mets Leadership Fireside Chat panel with David Stearns and manager Carlos Mendoza. The panel was asked where things stood with Alonso. 

“We’ve made a significant offer to Pete. And what David said is correct, he’s entitled to go out and explore his market, and that’s what he’s doing,” Cohen said. “Personally, this has been an exhausting conversation and negotiation. Soto was tough; this is worse. A lot of it is, we made a significant offer, I don’t like the structures [of the offer] that are being presented back to us.”

“I will never say no. There is always a possibility. The reality is, we’re moving forward. We continue to bring in players. As we continue to bring in players, the reality is that it becomes harder to fit Pete into a very expensive group of players we already have. That’s where we are.”

“I’m being brutally honest. I don’t like the negotiations. I don’t like what’s been presented to us. Listen, maybe that changes. I’ll always stay flexible. If it stays this way, we may have to go forward with the existing players we have.” 

Restarting Talks

After Cohen’s “brutally honest” assessment to fans, Andy Martino further discussed the Alonso situation on Baseball Night in New York. 

“The final Mets offer that Alonso turned down –that’s gonna be tough to beat with the Blue Jays,” Martino said. “That was the $70 million that we talked about for three years, additional deferred money. That could’ve been a real win, probably in what the ultimate dollar figure would’ve looked like for Alonso. Given what the Blue Jays gave [Anthony] Santander – it was in the 60s after the deferred money – they’re probably not gonna get as good an offer from Toronto as they’ve already gotten from the Mets, and turned down from the Mets.”

Not long after Cohen’s comments on the negotiation process, he was back in contact with Alonso’s camp, reported Jon Heyman. 

“No more than 48 hours after publicly lamenting the seemingly endless saga…Cohen was back in conversation with Alonso’s camp,” Heyman wrote. 

With Boras and Cohen back in conversation, a return to the Mets seemed more likely by the day, however, there was still work to be done on both sides. 

The Alonso Re-Pivot

During the final days of January, the Mets re-signed right-handed reliever Ryne Stanek to a one-year, $4.5 million deal, and then acquired infielder Nick Madrigal from the Chicago Cubs. 

Although the initial sentiment was that these signings made it less likely that Alonso would return to the Mets, Andy Martino explained why he believes the opposite is true in a February 3 article. 

“Of all things, it was the Ryne Stanek signing that first signaled to me that this path remained somewhat open,” Martino wrote. “When the Mets reached a deal with Stanek on Jan. 30 for $4.5 million, it signaled to me that they were leaving room for the possibility of a pivot back to Alonso.” 

“That same thought occurred when the team likely filled its utility infielder vacancy by signing Nick Madrigal to a split contract that maxes out at $1.35 million,” he added. “That is significantly less than a reunion with Jose Iglesias would have cost.” 

With the first days of February coming and going, Alonso’s status as a free agent remained. On February 5, Bob Nightengale reported that Cohen and Stearns travelled to Tampa for a face-to-face meeting with Alonso and Boras. Alonso aired his frustration about the situation, and it was made clear to Alonso that he was wanted on the Mets. 

That meeting would change everything. The two sides finally came to an agreement, first reported by Jeff Passan later that evening. 

Alonso’s will-he-or-won’t-he situation has come to a predictable end, and the Mets continue to have one of the most memorable off seasons in franchise history.