The New York Mets face some tough choices as they assemble their 2025 roster, with one of the biggest decisions being whether to offer a long-term contract to first baseman Pete Alonso.
Erik Beaston of Bleacher Report predicts Alonso will remain with the team, despite his upcoming free agency this winter. Beaston also notes that Alonso’s future in Queens could be influenced by the Mets’ pursuit of outfielder Juan Soto.
“The 2019 NL Rookie of the Year and two-time Home Run Derby champion has consistently expressed his desire to stay in New York, calling it “home” before this year’s All-Star Game,” Beaston said. Alonso is reportedly seeking a contract worth around $200 million. If the Mets land Soto, Alonso’s chances of re-signing with the club would likely decrease.
Alonso didn’t have the standout season he had hoped for in 2024. Despite playing all 162 regular-season games for the first time, he posted a career-low .788 OPS, though he still managed 34 home runs, 31 doubles, 88 RBI, and 91 runs scored over 695 plate appearances.
Spotrac has estimated his market value at nearly $175 million over six years.
What Pete Alonso Means to the Mets’ Lineup
Alonso’s 2024 season marked his least productive in terms of OPS, and the same holds true when using FanGraphs’ WAR metric. From 2019 to 2022, he posted at least 3.5 WAR in three seasons. That figure fell to 2.8 in 2023, and then to 2.1 in 2024.
Despite this dip, Alonso’s overall impact since debuting in 2019 is undeniable. His 53 home runs as a rookie remain a franchise record, and he set the team’s single-season RBI record with 131 in 2022.
With 226 home runs since 2019, only David Wright (242) and Darryl Strawberry (252) have hit more for the Mets. Alonso’s power and durability have been key to the team’s offense, as he’s never played fewer than 152 games, hit fewer than 34 homers, or recorded fewer than 88 RBI in any full season.
Could the Mets Sign Both Pete Alonso & Juan Soto?
The Mets have been linked to Juan Soto multiple times in recent months, and they appear to be the biggest competition for the Yankees in retaining the outfielder long-term.
If the Mets land Soto with an irresistible offer, could it mean Pete Alonso will be playing elsewhere after 2025? It’s a possibility, especially since signing both Soto and Alonso could exceed $700 million. However, Mets owner Steve Cohen might still be willing to make it happen.
“I bet he goes for both,” said a league executive familiar with Cohen, as reported by SNY’s Andy Martino on February 18.
There’s also evidence that Cohen is open to stretching the budget when necessary. Ahead of the 2023 season, the Mets spent nearly $500 million in free agency, and had the Carlos Correa deal gone through, it could have added another $200-300 million to that total.
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