LOS ANGELES—On Thursday, Pete Alonso hit a crucial home run for the New York Mets during the ninth inning against Milwaukee, propelling them into the National League Division Series against the Philadelphia Phillies. The best-of-five series is currently tied 1-1, with Game 3 set for Tuesday at Citi Field in New York.
Alonso, who will become a free agent after the postseason, has expressed his desire to stay with the Mets. “I’d love the idea of spending the rest of my career with the Mets, because it’s a special place,” he stated in late August. “This organization has been home to me. It’s been an incredible life experience, an incredible journey.”
However, Alonso’s agent, Scott Boras, revealed that he has not spoken with Mets owner Steve Cohen or general manager David Stearns regarding Alonso. Additionally, Alonso has had no direct conversations with them either. “He’s going to free agency,” Boras remarked. “We’ll be talking to all the teams like we normally do.”
Boras emphasized the urgency for Cohen to initiate negotiations, noting that Alonso is a vital part of the franchise. Selected by the Mets in the second round of the 2016 draft, Alonso has spent his first six seasons in the majors with the team, hitting 226 home runs—third on the all-time list and nearing Darryl Strawberry’s 252. His charitable contributions to communities in New York and his hometown of Tampa further enhance his reputation.
“He’s definitely the core of the franchise,” Boras noted while observing batting practice at Dodger Stadium over the weekend. He acknowledged that Alonso’s desire to remain with one franchise is typical. “Any player who has been with one franchise is going to feel like that,” he said, adding that he plans to discuss Alonso’s future actions once the season concludes.
In contrast, Boras cited the situation with Matt Chapman, who held out until spring training before signing a one-year contract with the San Francisco Giants. The Giants later approached Chapman for a contract renegotiation, leading to a six-year, $151 million extension.
Alonso’s peers, such as Jordan Montgomery and Blake Snell, face uncertain futures, with Montgomery having a tough season and Snell indicating he may opt out of his deal. J.D. Martinez is set to hit the market as well.
The offseason will be busy for Boras, who also represents Juan Soto, a 26-year-old outfielder seeking a long-term contract worth $500 million to $600 million. Boras confirmed he met with Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner to discuss Soto, but contract terms will wait until he becomes a free agent.
Unlike Soto, Alonso’s future with the Mets remains uncertain, with no contact reported between him and Mets management. “Not that I know of,” Boras said regarding any discussions.
Losing Alonso would resonate deeply, reminiscent of the Mets trading Tom Seaver in 1977. Despite a challenging season for Alonso, finishing with a .240 batting average, his decisive home run against the Brewers might solidify his legacy with the Mets. Boras referred to that moment as “a remarkable franchise-turning event.” Whether this will define Alonso’s career is yet to be seen.
