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Pete Alonso landed a two-year, $54 million contract with the New York Mets in February, an underwhelming conclusion to his first foray into free agency.
The first baseman received and rejected a qualifying offer from the Mets, which likely limited his market. Any team that signed him would have been subject to draft pick compensation, and eventually Alonso ended up back in Queens.
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Now, Alonso is expected to opt out of the second year of his contract. According to Mike Puma of the New York Post, Alonso has his sights set on a seven-year contract in free agency.
Not so fast, said former Mets general manager Zack Scott.
“Looks like he may be back with the Mets … on a short deal after he once again overplays his hand in the market,” Scott wrote Monday on Twitter/X. “Rinse and rePete Alonso!”
Alonso hit .272/.347/.524 in 162 games last season, with 38 home runs and 126 RBIs. His 144 OPS+ was just shy of the 146 OPS+ he posted in 2022, when he finished eighth in National League MVP voting, and the 147 OPS+ he had in 2019, when he won the NL Rookie of the Year Award.
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Scott isn’t arguing that those numbers lack luster. He’s merely pointing out that seven-year contracts for 30-year-old position players are rare. And for all Alonso offers a team at the plate, his utility on defense is limited to first base or designated hitter.
Alonso was already a fan favorite when Scott joined the Mets as an assistant general manager in Dec. 2020, leaving the Boston Red Sox. Scott was promoted to acting general manager, replacing Jared Porter in January 2021, and served in the role until September of that year.
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Mets general manager David Stearns might need to stay disciplined after owner Steve Cohen splurged on Juan Soto in free agency a year ago. Alonso’s camp, meanwhile, will try to leverage his profile as an elite power hitter and fan favorite to land a longer contract than he got last year.
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