Sportscaster lashes out at Pete Alonso's agent Scott Boras for failed progress in contract negotiations with Mets

After talks on a new contract fell through, the New York Mets appear to be shifting their focus away from Pete Alonso. The infielder turned down a seven-year, $158 million contract deal last offseason, but he is now reportedly considering offers around that figure, if not higher. However, neither the Mets nor the rest of the interested teams are willing to pay him that much at present.

Evan Roberts of WFAN Radio's Rico Brogna podcast called out Scott Boras for the type of negotiations he has done on behalf of Alonso.

"Scott Boras is not clean in this because Scott Boras, when there's no market for the player, he is asking for way too much," Robert said Thursday. "Now, I get it as a Met fan, maybe the reaction is, 'Well, what's too much?' He's asking for three years, 110 million, three years, 115 million, three years, 100 million. Screw it, just give it to him.

"It is impossible for us to ask David Stearns and Steve Cohen to bid against themselves and simply just give Scott what he wants. So I know the easy answer and I'll tell you what my answer is:

"Can you find a happy place in the middle? Like if Boras is insisting on three years, 110 and the Mets are sitting here saying here's three years 65 or 70 and there's opt-outs in each of these deals, can you find somewhere in the middle?" Roberts said. [3:52]

Mets allocating Pete Alonso funds for All-Star reliever

The Mets have added star power to their batting lineup by getting Juan Soto and strengthened their starting rotation by extending Sean Manaea among other deals.

So, the only place they could improve is the bullpen. The team is reportedly looking to sign Tanner Scott, who is projected to receive a contract offer worth $64 million.

The money was initially intended for Pete Alonso but his final rejection of the $68-$70 million range has forced the Mets front office to get other players instead.

The team would be relieved of the high annual average value that Alonso would receive and could allocate funds for multiple players even after getting Scott. Their addition of Jesse Winker for a one-year $7.5 million deal could be considered as a pivot from Alonso.