
According to SNY reporter Andy Martino, league sources have indicated that it’s unlikely Alonso will re-sign with the Mets. It’s expected that he will be headed elsewhere in free agency.
The decision to move on from Alonso — if it indeed happens — will be a tough one for Mets fans. Alonso has been the face of the franchise since making his MLB debut in 2019. The four-time all-star has clubbed a whopping 226 HRs in six seasons with the Mets. That’s included three years with at least 118 RBIs.
There’s no doubting the pop Alonso brings to the table. He’s a proven power guy with the ability to drive runners in. Having said that, there are some things that made a reunion between himself and the Mets untenable.
For one, the 30-year-old is a below-average defender. He’s worked hard to be at the very least playable — though a Gold Glove certainly isn’t in his future. You can envision a scenario where he becomes a full-time DH sooner rather than later. This is problematic given that the team’s most recent high-profile signing, Juan Soto, is also a below-average fielder with a future destined as a DH.
If you lock Alonso into a lengthy deal, the defense somewhere on the field will likely be problematic. Aside from the lack of defense offered, Alonso is a poor runner with virtually no base-stealing skills. He’s also someone that strikes out a lot. In playoff baseball, being able to put the ball in play is imperative, and Alonso is not exactly consistent in that regard.
This is not to say losing Alonso would be a good thing necessarily speaking. He’s still a guy who’s essentially a lock for 30+ HRs and close to 100 RBIs. Alonso is also a leader within the team and is someone extremely well-liked and appreciated by the front office and the fan base.