The New York Mets made headlines by signing Juan Soto to an unprecedented 15-year, $765 million free agency contract. This offseason, they also have an opportunity to add another superstar to complement him.
With Francisco Lindor already on the roster to team up with Soto, Newsday’s Laura Albanese has forecasted that the Mets will secure Pete Alonso on a “franchise-friendly deal” during this offseason.
“The remaining options at first base aren’t particularly appealing unless the Mets consider pursuing third baseman Alex Bregman and shifting Mark Vientos to first,” wrote Albanese. “Sometimes, though, the simplest solution is the best one, and it’s possible Steve Cohen and his team are biding their time to negotiate a more franchise-friendly deal.”
The first base market thinned significantly last week. The Arizona Diamondbacks acquired Josh Naylor following Christian Walker’s signing with the Houston Astros. Meanwhile, the New York Yankees added Paul Goldschmidt, the Texas Rangers traded Nathaniel Lowe to the Washington Nationals, and the Cleveland Guardians brought in Carlos Santana. These moves leave only a handful of teams both capable of affording Pete Alonso and in need of a first baseman.
While signing both Alonso and Soto in the same offseason seems like a stretch, Steve Cohen has a knack for exceeding financial expectations. Alonso, a four-time All-Star and a fan favorite, is a key figure in the Mets’ lineup. However, with Vladimir Guerrero Jr. potentially hitting free agency next winter, some teams may hesitate to invest heavily in Alonso now.
That said, both Alonso and the Mets appear motivated to continue their partnership. A deal that balances keeping Alonso while preserving financial flexibility for the Mets could be the ideal outcome.
