New York Mets slugger Pete Alonso is one of the biggest names entering free agency this winter. President of Operations David Stearns has confirmed that he will explore the market.
The 29-year-old has been a Mets man throughout his MLB career and has put in some memorable performances over the years. After another impressive postseason run, there was speculation about his future. Stearns, on MLB Network, said that while they would love to have him back, Alonso is expected to explore other offers as well.
"Would love to have him back," Stearns said. "We also understand free agency can take twists and turns. He is going to evaluate his market. We are going to do the best we can."
Since joining the New York Mets in the 2016 MLB Draft, Pete Alonso has been a one-team man who has grown into one of the central figures of the franchise.
A four-time All-Star with several individual accolades, the slugger provided one of his most iconic hits in this year's Wild Card series against the Brewers. Many have since wondered if they will see him in a Mets jersey again.
Ahead of the 2024 season, Alonso signed a one-year, $20.5 million contract with the Mets to avoid salary arbitration. With that contract now nearing its end, he's expected to attract plenty of interest from other teams in the market.
Super agent Scott Boras gives humorous take on Pete Alonso's market in the MLB
Scott Boras is known in the MLB for representing some of the biggest names in the game, and with Pete Alonso's future still in the air, he's set for a busy winter.
As Alonso's agent, he was asked about the market for the slugger, to which he replied:
"We hear a lot about the bear market for power-hitting first basemen. For Pete's sake, it's the polar opposite," a reference to Alonso's Polar Bear nickname.
New York Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said he had spoken to Boras regarding Alonso and confirmed his interest. There will most likely be a host of other teams making the same inquiry in the coming weeks.