Mets icon makes feelings on Pete Alonso clear

New York Mets icon and current SNY commentator Keith Hernandez made it clear he believes club president of baseball operations David Stearns and team owner Steve Cohen should sign All-Star first baseman Pete Alonso to a contract extension this offseason. 

"I think it's very important," Hernandez said during a Thursday appearance at the MLB store in Manhattan, per Danny Abriano of SNY. "Pete, if you look at his record, he's got a body of work. He's not just a comet, [a] shooting star that's gonna burn out. He is incredible with his power numbers." 

According to StatMuse, no player hit more home runs from the start of the 2019 season through this past campaign than Alonso (192). On Thursday, Hernandez compared the "Polar Bear" to a Hall of Famer and an all-time great slugger. 

"I've always referred to him -- almost from the first year when he hit the 50-plus home runs -- he to me is the second coming of Harmon Killebrew," Hernandez continued.

Killebrew remains 12th in MLB history with 573 career homers. 

Mets legends Mike Piazza and Darryl Strawberry previously offered similar comments about the club keeping Alonso before the fan-favorite hired Scott Boras as his new agent. Alonso currently is eligible for free agency after the 2024 season, but both parties seem open to having serious discussions regarding an extension before spring training. 

Stearns also said this week that he does "not anticipate" trading Alonso before Opening Day 2024. 

"Big power hitter like him," Hernandez added about Alonso, "you can't find those. They gotta sign him."

The Mets let outfielder Brandon Nimmo reach free agency last fall but then re-signed him via an eight-year contract reportedly worth $162M. While paying Alonso sooner than later could ultimately save the Mets some money, he may want to bet on himself by playing out a contract season.