None of the oft-cited Pete Alonso comps fits perfectly. Here’s two more: Alonso’s camp can cite Brandon Nimmo’s $162M deal and Eric Hosmer’s $144M deal to argue he should get more and much more, respectively.
Alonso received a $158M, seven-year offer from the Mets last year, colleague Joel Sherman reported (but that was the previous regime, it was pointed out to me).
The other deals sure to be cited by Alonso’s camp remain Prince Fielder ($214M), Chris Davis ($181M) and Mark Teixeira ($180M) while ones cited by the team are the more recent Freddie Freeman ($162M but $144M value with deferrals) and Paul Goldschmidt ($130M). Alonso’s camp will point out Freeman, while among the game’s best players, was two-plus years older, and Goldschmidt a year from free agency.
Alonso has a 136 OPS-plus since May 7 when J.D. Martinez recommended a swing adjustment (in line with career mark of 135), compared to a 100 OPS-plus prior.
Mets president David Stearns is viewed as preferring long-term deals for free agents in their mid 20s (Alonso is 29) but many believe this may be one case where Steve Cohen defers to fans.
The Braves and manager Brian Snitker deserve a shout-out for even hanging on to the sixth playoff spot despite debilitating injuries to their biggest stars. The team known for having players play 162 games lost its best pitcher, Spencer Strider, and best position player, Ronald Acuña Jr., and now Austin Riley is out several weeks.
Snitker, a career minor league manager until his late-life elevation, is having another excellent year in what could be his penultimate season. Snitker is thought likely to retire after his contract expires next season (although that’s unconfirmed). But he keeps doing a great job at 68.
Surprisingly, the Braves have suffered only slightly more injuries than the Mets, standing 17th in IL stints (21) and 20th in IL days (1,048) to the Mets’ 23rd in IL stints (18) and 21st in IL days (1,135). It’s the names that are the separator.
The Mets still see a future for Brett Baty with them, which is why they didn’t deal him.
The Yankees made a play for old friend Gio Urshela but he found a starting MLB job with the Braves.