HomeMLBPete Alonso's FA Saga Continues

Pete Alonso’s FA Saga Continues

Pete Alonso’s free agency is seemingly wearing on New York Mets owner Steve Cohen.

A four-time All-Star with the Mets, Alonso remains a free agent with February quickly approaching. The slugging first baseman has been heavily linked to the Toronto Blue Jays in recent weeks, and his absence from Saturday’s winter fan event at Citi Field was noticeable. When Cohen took the stage, he was met with chants of “We want Pete!”

“Personally, this has been an exhausting conversation and negotiation,” Cohen said. “I mean, [Juan Soto’s negotiation] was tough. This is worse. A lot of it is, we’ve made a significant offer. I don’t like the structures that are being presented back to us. I think it’s highly asymmetric against us, and I feel strongly about it.”

“I will never say no,” Cohen said. “There’s always the possibility. But the reality is we’re moving forward and we continue to bring in players. As we continue to bring in players, the reality is it becomes harder to fit Pete into what is a very expensive group of players that we already have, and that’s where we are.”

“I’m being brutally honest. I don’t like the negotiations. I don’t like what’s being presented to us. Maybe that changes. I’ll always stay flexible. But if it stays this way, I think we’re going to have to get used to the fact that we may have to go forward with the existing players that we have.”

According to sources, Alonso, 30, originally hoped for a long-term deal. As the process has continued, Alonso has become open to signing a three-year deal with the Mets — but money remains a hurdle. Following Cohen’s comments at the fan event, Scott Boras — Alonso’s agent — responded.

“Pete’s free agent contract structure request are identical to the standards and practices of other clubs who have signed similarly situated qualifying offer/All-Star-level players,” Boras said. “Nothing different. Just established fairness standards.”

Alonso hit a career-high 53 home runs as a rookie in 2019 and has slugged at least 34 HR in each full season (in 2020, he hit 16). While he is one of the top sluggers in MLB, Alonso is not a good defender and is a non-factor on the basepaths. Additionally, Alonso’s performance at the plate has declined over the past three seasons.

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