Mets and Pete AlonsoBoras’ agents appeared to be at an impasse last week, with reports that the Mets wanted Alonso to sign elsewhere after each side rejected the other’s three-year deal offer. Team owner Steve Cohen and president of baseball operations David Stearns addressed the situation separately during this weekend’s “Surprise Days” fan event at Citi Field, with Cohen emphasizing the possibility of an Alonso reunion. The door is not closed, but the effectiveness of the Opportunity Agreement appears to be diminishing.
“We made a big offer to Pete,” Cohen told fans and media, including Will Sammon of The Athletic. However, the owner does not “Like the structure presented to us. I think it’s highly asymmetrical for us and I feel strongly about that. I would never say no, you know, the possibility is always there [of an agreement]. But the reality is we’re moving forward, and as we continue to bring in players, the reality is that it’s becoming more and more difficult to fit Pitt into the very expensive group of players that we already have.”.
“This is where we are right now, I’ll be brutally honest. I don’t like negotiating. I didn’t like what was presented to us. Look, maybe things will change, and of course, I’ll always be flexible. If this continues, I think we’re going to have to get used to the fact that we’re probably going to have to move forward with the players that we have”.
The specifics of Scott Boras’ offer to the Mets are unclear, although the concept presented was a three-year contract with at least an opt-out clause that would make Alonso available as early as possible. Free agency will be tested again this offseason. The structure is similar to transactions signed by other Boras clients, such as Matt Chapman, Cody Bellinger, Blake Snelland Jordan Montgomery Last winter, players received high average annual values within the framework of these short-term deals.
There are reports that the Mets are countering the offer from Alonso’s camp with a three-year deal worth $68 to $70 million (which may still have an opt-out option), which would put Alonso’s AAV at roughly $23. Alonso and his representatives rejected the offer, Salmon writes, and Mets subsequently withdrew the offer entirely, leading to the current impasse between the two sides. “It’s unclear whether Mets and Alonso have re-engaged,” Salmon said. “So whether the door will open under similar or different parameters remains a question.
While there was definitely some gamesmanship involved in Cohen’s comments today, the Mets owner didn’t mince words when he said “pFor me personally it was an exhausting conversation and negotiation“, Cohen thinks of talks with Alonso”Worse“Even better than”tough“Negotiation Juan Soto Soto ended up with a record contract of $765. Ironically, both Soto and Alonso are represented by Boras, even though the markets for the two sluggers are obviously very different.
Even before the offseason began, there was a sense that Alonso — a power-focused first baseman whose numbers have declined slightly over the past two seasons — might have to accept a short-term deal with an opt-out , so the fact that the negotiations were ongoing is not surprising with the Mets focusing on this type of contract. What remains unclear, however, is whether Alonso has any other suitors willing to offer more years, or at least a higher average annual salary. The Giants, Angels, Red Sox and Blue Jays have all reportedly shown some interest in Alonso, with Toronto appearing to be in contention for the first baseman as of late.
In terms of how the Mets can surpass Alonso, Jesse Wink Re-signing last week fills another hole at position player. Joel Sherman of the New York Post wrote yesterday that the Mets asked about both men Mark Ventos and Brett Batty Started working out at first base, and Batty also did some work as a second baseman.
Vientos already has some experience at first base, and he’s already locked into a regular spot on New York’s 2025 roster, either as a third baseman (if Alonso re-signs) or a first baseman (if Alonso left and another first base only type guy) didn’t get). Batey played almost exclusively third base in 169 career MLB and minor league games, while also playing second base and left field in the minor leagues. He had never played first base at the professional level, Batty told Salmon, and the last time he played the position was as a high school sophomore.
Still, Barty sees the challenge as “It’s really fun…I’ve always prided myself on being as athletic as possible. I think athleticism, you can show it at any position, whether it’s first base, second base, third base, outfield, whatever it is”.
Batty has a slash line of .215/.282/.325 in 602 games at the MLB level, but he has yet to establish himself in parts of three seasons, so added position flexibility would be at least a benefit to the former top prospect. A good way for the prospect to help his chances of making the roster. Between Batty, Luis Angel Acunaand Ronnie Mauriciothe Mets could allow these youngsters to compete for playing time at third base, preferably with one guy stepping up to take on the regular starting job. If no one is ready for prime time, the Mets could pursue some type of corner infielder at the trade deadline, and Vientos could move from first base to third base, depending on what New York might get. who.
