NEW YORK – It looks like Pete Alonso is going, going, gone.
The inaugural Amazin’ Day fan festival at Citi Field didn’t bring a dramatic resolution to the Alonso free agent saga — but did seem to confirm that the Mets’ most popular and prolific power hitter New York is likely to sign elsewhere as spring training approaches.
“We made Pete a big offer,” Mets owner Steve Cohen explained during a fireside chat with president of baseball operations David Stearns and manager Carlos Mendoza. “It was an exhausting conversation and negotiation.
“Soto was tough,” Cohen said, referring to talks that ended with the signing of New York’s star slugger Juan Soto to a record $765 million, 15-year contract last month. “It’s worse.”
Alonso, who like Soto is represented by agent Scott Boras, has been a fan favorite since arriving in 2019, when he hit a rookie record 53 home runs. The 30-year-old first baseman has 226 home runs, the third most home runs in franchise history, and saved New York from playoff elimination last October with a go-ahead start against Milwaukee, closer Devin Williams, in Game 3 of an NL Wild Card Series.
A standing-room-only crowd in the Piazza Club chanted Alonso’s name as Cohen and Stearns answered a question about negotiations with Alonso from moderator Gary Cohen, the Mets’ play-by-play announcer on SNY.
“I think we all love Pete and we’ve said that many times,” said Stearns, who spoke before Steve Cohen. “I think throughout this process, we continued to express it. And we also understand that this is a business and that Pete, as a free agent, deserves that right and has that right – he really has earned the privilege to see what happens.
“We also feel really good about the young players coming through our system,” Stearns said to some light boos. “We saw it last year. And that’s not always the most popular opinion, but we saw it last year. And we will have to see it again.
Alonso and fellow Boras client Alex Bregman are the most notable players still unsigned in what has been a cool free agent market for corner infielders. Former Arizona first baseman Christian Walker ($60 million for three years with Houston) is the only corner infielder to sign a multi-year contract. Josh Bell, Carlos Santana and former 2022 NL MVP Paul Goldschmidt all signed one-year deals.
“I don’t like the structures that are presented to us,” Steve Cohen said. “It’s very lopsided against us and I feel very strongly about it. I will never say no. You know, there’s always a possibility.
“But the reality is that we are moving forward and we continue to recruit players. And as we continue to recruit players, the reality is that it becomes more difficult to fit Pete into a group of very expensive players that we already have.
Brett Baty and Mark Vientos, who each played in the farm system as a third baseman, said Saturday that they took reps at first base this winter. Mendoza said he liked the Mets’ depth at the position, including Joey Meneses, who hit 29 homers in the previous three seasons for the Washington Nationals before signing a minor league contract with New York in November.
Hours before the board meeting, Alonso’s teammates — along with Hall of Fame catcher Mike Piazza — expressed hope that he and the club could still come together.
“I would love to have Pete back with us, but I also understand that I don’t make those decisions and that’s between Pete and our front office and David and Steve,” outfielder Brandon Nimmo said.
“Listen, he’s a special player — guys who can hit 40 home runs just don’t walk the streets,” Piazza said. “When he’s really on his game, he’s a special player. From a personal point of view, I hope they find a solution.
Amazin’ Day included 18 panels on the past, present and future of the Mets and featured more than 50 players, alumni and prospects. Fans were able to tour Citi Field, including the clubhouses and bullpen.
NOTES: Soto was scheduled to attend, but four potential flights from the Dominican Republic were canceled. Flight problems also prevented Dedniel Núñez and Huascar Brazobán from making their expected visits. … Nimmo and Francisco Lindor said they expect to be 100 percent when the Mets have their first full practice of spring training on Feb. 17. Nimmo suffered from plantar fasciitis during New York’s run to the 2024 National League Championship Series, while Lindor missed nine games in September because of a sore back. … Mendoza said RHP Paul Blackburn, limited to five starts after being acquired from the Athletics because of a spinal leak in his back, stepped onto a mound and Núñez, who had thrown only once after July 23 due to a right elbow injury, had pitched bullpen and live batting practice. … Stearns said RHP Kodai Senga, limited to one start of the regular season because of shoulder and calf injuries last year, will be healthy for spring training. Mendoza said pitching coach Jeremy Hefner visited Senga in Japan this winter.