It doesn’t feel like there’s momentum toward a quick deal for Pete Alonso, so the Mets’ best hope to make the homegrown slugging star a lifetime Met probably comes when he’s a free agent next winter.
Any hope to sign Alonso for a deal comparable to Freddie Freeman’s $162M contract is gone now, maybe more so because Alonso posted his third 40-plus homer season in five (only Kyle Schwarber even has two) than him hiring noted agent Scott Boras.
Boras got $214M for Prince Fielder a decade ago, and $180M for Mark Teixeira nearly a decade and a half ago.
He’ll surely argue the Freeman deal is an aberration.
New Mets honcho David Stearns said he expects Alonso to be a Met come Opening Day, and a trade does seem unlikely with the Mets aiming to compete in 2024.
Actually, the Mets would be better off trying to acquire another bona fide slugger to protect him.
Boras is famous for using free agency, but that doesn’t mean the homegrown star leaves. There will be plenty of competition (the Cubs like Alonso, as Bruce Levine of WSCR reported).
But folks insist Alonso loves New York, and no one should assume they can’t find common ground, even if it takes until next winter. One comparable situation from eons ago may be instructive.
In a bit of positive history, 25 years ago Boras and George Steinbrenner got together on a deal during Bernie Williams’ free agency after protracted drama.
The Yankees first offered Williams $34M then upped it to $60M, only going to the winning $87.5M after hearing the Red Sox bid $88.5M. At the time that was considered a coup for Williams.
But it also became maybe the best deal the Yankees ever made.