Mets Predicted to Lose $174 Million Four-Time All-Star to AL Contender
While the New York Mets are busy pursuing free agent outfielder Juan Soto, there’s a big hole at first base since Pete Alonso is also on the open market. Will the club’s homegrown slugger remain in Queens or head elsewhere for 2025 and beyond?
The 2024 season could be considered a down campaign for Alonso based on his past track record. However, many teams in need of offense are likely still interested in penciling him into the middle of their lineup. The 29-year-old slugged 34 home runs with 88 RBI and a .788 OPS, all career-low marks during a 162-game season.
He did shake off any frustrations to help the Mets get within two wins of the World Series in October. Alonso slashed .273/.431/.568 with four homers, 10 RBI and 10 runs scored in 58 postseason plate appearances.
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The right-handed slugger will bring prodigious power to any team that signs him. He’s hit 226 homers since his 2019 debut. Only Aaron Judge (232 homers) has gone deep more than him during that time. Is Alonso destined to stay with the Mets, or will he be ditching the orange and blue for new uniform colors? The Athletic’s Andy McCullough is predicting the slugger will sign with the Seattle Mariners.
“Perhaps more than any other player, Alonso is waiting to see where Juan Soto lands. The Mets harbor interest in bringing back Alonso, a homegrown star. The team has a backup plan, though, in the form of infielder Mark Vientos,” McCullough wrote. “And the Mariners are so desperate for offense, especially from the infield corners, that the front office could ignore Alonso’s lack of on-base skills and pay a premium for his power.
Spotrac pegs his market value at six years and $174 million, but other contract projections have him not costing as much. The Athletic’s Tim Britton projects a five-year, $140 million deal for Alonso, while MLB Trade Rumors thinks he’ll land a $125 million guarantee over five seasons.
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