The New York Mets look to be entering the season without an extension for Pete Alonso.
After hitting 53 home runs as a rookie, Alonso has improved as an overall player every season and has been a staple in the Mets lineup.
He has 192 home runs in his first five seasons, and one of those was the shortened season in 2020.
When thinking about power hitters around the league, New York's first baseman is at the top of the list.
However, without an extension done, and the likelihood of him hitting free agency next offseason increasing, should they look to trade Alonso?
Losing him for nothing would be a disaster for the front office.
After dealing Justin Verlander and Max Scherzer last season, it'd be unsurprising to see the Mets keep their star slugger in Queens for the foreseeable future as the face of their franchise.
If he hits the open market, Alonso will be one of the most sought-after players in baseball.
The same could be said if they put him on the trade block.
Rumors have surfaced throughout the offseason that the Chicago Cubs have an interest in trading for Alonso.
It's uncertain the extent of that interest, but there's something there for the Cubs.
Zachary Rymer of Bleacher Report proposed a blockbuster trade that would send Alonso to Chicago, pointing to the NL Central being a winnable division if they landed a power bat of his caliber.
Given it'd be a rental, it's uncertain what the Cubs would be willing to trade for the slugger.
They have a loaded farm system, but it's unlikely to see them part ways with Pete Crow-Armstrong, Cade Horton, Matt Shaw, or Jordan Wicks for someone they could lose in less than a year.
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