...
By Zach Pressnell
Contributing Sports Writer
0
Share
Newsweek is a Trust Project member
See more of our trusted coverage when you search.Prefer Newsweek on Googleto see more of our trusted coverage when you search.
The New York Mets are prioritizing Juan Soto this winter and it makes a lot of sense. Out of all the free agents on the market, Soto is clearly the top dog and the Mets have a real shot to bring him to Queens.
What happens if they fall short?
Priority No. 1 of a backup plan likely involves re-signing star first baseman Pete Alonso. Alonso has been with the Mets for six years where he's hit 226 home runs and drove in 586 runs.
Read More on MLB
Bleacher Report's Joel Reuter believes the Mets will re-sign Alonso this winter. Reuter recently projected Alonso to return to the Big Apple on a five-year, $125 million deal.
...
"The report that Pete Alonso turned down a seven-year, $158 million extension offer during the 2023 season has been referenced frequently, and while he might not be able to top that offer in terms of total money, he could land a higher AAV on a shorter deal," Reuter wrote. "A $25 million AAV would put him in the same ballpark as the deal that Freddie Freeman ($27 million AAV) signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers, and after his performance for the Mets in the postseason, it's hard to imagine Steve Cohen letting him wear any other uniform in 2025."
If Alonso is willing to sign a deal of this nature, he could be involved in the Mets' plan whether they sign Soto or not. Even after inking Soto to a massive $700 million deal, the Mets could afford to pay Alonso $25 million a year for the next half-decade.
This would make Mets fans, who have historically loved Alonso, very happy. It would make the front office and the team very happy too.
The rest of the National League East wouldn't be too happy about it, though.
More MLB: MLB Insider Teases Idea Of Juan Soto Signing 15-Year, $750 Million Mega-Contract
View 0 Comments
Submit Correction
View Editorial & AI Guidelines