MLB insider explains what Mets should do with Pete Alonso

ESPN MLB insider Kiley McDaniel is among noteworthy individuals who believe New York Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns should work to sign All-Star first baseman Pete Alonso to a contract extension this winter before Alonso reaches free agency next fall.

"He'll make more than $20M in his last year of arbitration because of his big counting stats, so his trade value is middling," McDaniel said about Alonso for a piece published Friday. "Something like a prospect that ranks in the 101-200 area of a prospect list." 

Alonso may not offer the Mets what Most Valuable Players such as Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani produce for their clubs, but the popular "Polar Bear" is good for more than just winning the occasional Home Run Derby contest. According to StatMuse, Alonso has hit more regular-season homers (192) than any other player since the start of the 2019 campaign. 

"The David Stearns style of GM is usually loath to commit to five-plus years starting with the age-30 season to a right-right first baseman who isn't an MVP candidate, but doing so is the right move for where the Mets are right now," McDaniel added about Alonso. "Beyond that, the Mets are treading water, not looking to hand out long-term deals to older players but signing short-term deals for complementary players instead or chasing the occasional young free agent."

While Stearns repeatedly said after he officially joined the Mets this past fall he does not "anticipate" trading Alonso before Opening Day, it was reported earlier this month that the sides had "not discussed at all this offseason the possibility of a long-term deal that would keep Alonso in Queens" as of that time. 

It seems big-spending team owner Steve Cohen never had a realistic chance of winning the signatures of either Ohtani or Japanese ace Yoshinobu Yamamoto ahead of Christmas, but the fact that the New York Yankees acquired All-Star outfielder Juan Soto from the San Diego Padres could ultimately push Cohen toward signing Alonso to appease paying customers who feel the Mets have thus far had an underwhelming offseason.