Hints about future of Mets slugger emerge from GM meetings
New York Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns confirmed during a Wednesday appearance on MLB Network he will discuss a contract extension with All-Star first baseman Pete Alonso this offseason.
"We're going to have those conversations," Stearns explained, according to Danny Abriano of SNY. "I'm generally of the mind that I try to keep those conversations out of the public dialogue."
Alonso hired Scott Boras as his new agent following the 2023 season, and Boras recently suggested the slugger set to reach free agency next fall could put pen to paper on a deal with the Mets before Opening Day 2024. Boras revealed on Wednesday he met with Stearns "at length" on Tuesday.
During Stearns' introductory news conference on Oct. 2, he seemed to pour cold water over trade rumors that hovered over Alonso throughout the summer and insisted he expected "Pete to be the Opening Day first baseman next year." Meanwhile, Mets insiders such as Anthony DiComo of the MLB website have repeatedly said they believe Alonso will ultimately play out the 2024 campaign and then negotiate with the club as a free agent.
"I'd like to have those conversations behind closed doors," Stearns added on Wednesday while speaking about Alonso. "I think they're most productive that way."
Stearns and big-spending Mets owner Steve Cohen struck out in a big way when manager Craig Counsell agreed to a five-year, $40M contract to make a move from the Milwaukee Brewers to the Chicago Cubs. Many Mets fans were left underwhelmed when the club settled on former New York Yankees bench coach Carlos Mendoza as the replacement for Buck Showalter, and pockets of those same supporters made it known throughout the closing days of a disappointing 2023 season that they want Stearns to "keep Pete" beyond next year.
It seems Stearns and Cohen are open to meeting the demands of those outspoken supporters ahead of Thanksgiving.
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