"It becomes harder to fit Pete": Mets owner Steve Cohen expresses  disappointment regarding Pete Alonso negotiations  

It has been a long and seemingly complicated offseason so far for four-time All-Star Pete Alonso. The long-time member of the New York Mets entered unrestricted free agency with the hopes of signing a significant and long-term deal.

However, he has been unable to secure a satisfactory contract. While there is still time left, there is a chance that one team may be off the board.

As part of the New York Mets fan event on Saturday, owner Steve Cohen spoke on the state of the team and, more importantly, the ongoing free agency of Pete Alonso.

While there has been mutual interest in a potential reunion between both the New York Mets and Alonso, there has been little progress on a deal. The situation seems to have clearly grown frustrating and tiresome for Steve Cohen.

"We've made a significant offer to Pete.. He's entitled to go out and explore his market and that's what he's doing. Personally this has been an exhausting conversation and negotiation. I mean, Soto was tough, this is worse," Cohen said to the crowd in attendance.

New York sent the MLB universe into a frenzy earlier this offseason, signing outfielder Juan Soto to a record-breaking 15-year, $765 million deal. After the massive contract was signed, the team shifted their attention to the rest of the roster, including Pete Alonso. However, they have struggled to tie down their long-time first baseman.

"Alot of it is, I don't like the structures that are being presented back to us. I think it's highly asymmetric against us. I feel strongly about it. I will never say no, there is always the possibility, but the reality is, we're moving forward and we continue to bring in players. Reality is, it becomes harder to fit Pete into what is a very expensive group of players that we already have," Cohen continued.

It will be interesting to see if Steve Cohen's message to the fans and journalists is a sign of the door firmly shut on the deal.

The New York Mets are not the only team interested in Pete Alonso

If the New York Mets are still interested in bringing Pete Alonso back into the fold, they will not only be negotiating with his agent, Scott Boras, but also the rest of the competition. Alonso has been linked to several different teams, with the Toronto Blue Jays and Los Angeles Angels emerging as threats to snag Alonso away from the Mets.

At this point of the offseason, Alonso may need to settle on a short-term deal with a higher annual salary. He would be an intriguing fit with a team like the Toronto Blue Jays. The team underperformed in 2024, though with the additions of Anthony Santander and Andres Gimenez already made, Pete Alonso could be a game-changing option for them.