Keith Hernandez has some advice for David Stearns: Sign Pete Alonso.
“It’s very important,” Hernandez said of extending Alonso’s contract. “If you look at his record now, he’s got a body of work. He’s not just a comet, a shooting star that’s going to burn out. He is incredible, his power numbers.”
Hernandez spoke Thursday at the MLB Flagship Store in Manhattan as Rawlings honored Gold Glove winners of the past and present.
“I’ve always referred to him, almost from the first year, when he hit the 50-plus home runs — he, to me, is the second coming of Harmon Killebrew,” Hernandez said. “[He’s a] big power hitter, and you can’t find those. You got to sign him.”
Alonso has one year left on his contract, and his status with the Mets is one of the team’s pressing offseason issues.
Trading Alonso would be the prudent move if the Mets don’t plan to extend him, but Stearns, the team’s new president of baseball operations, said he expects Alonso will man first base when the Mets open the 2024 season.
Alonso’s agent, Scott Boras, said the first baseman is open to an extension in lieu of free agency.
If Alonso stays, he could challenge Hernandez for the title of the greatest Mets first baseman.
Hernandez, an SNY analyst, is a big fan of Alonso and expressed his displeasure with the rumors that Alonso is not a good clubhouse presence.
“I don’t know where that was coming from,” Hernandez said. “Pete is a good teammate. … Whoever started that, I thought it was very, very mean-spirted.”
If Alonso remains a Met, he will play for first-time manager Carlos Mendoza. Hernandez said he was “surprised” by the hire but does not know Mendoza.
Yankees shortstop Anthony Volpe, who also attended the event after winning his first Gold Glove, said the Mets’ new skipper will be “amazing.”
“He’s the best. We’re definitely going to miss him. They got an amazing guy,” Volpe said. “From Day 1 he brought me along, took me under his wing and kind of showed me the ropes. And for me, that was huge. … He was so great to bounce ideas off of and then for the ups and downs he was always there, willing to work and everything like that. … [It’s] going to be fun to compete against him.”