Mets owner reveals whether team has discussed contract with Pete Alonso
Although first baseman Pete Alonso made his third All-Star Game appearance in 2023, New York Mets owner Steve Cohen indicated he's not planning on giving him a new contract.
"We haven't had any discussion, and I think at this point, for Pete, it's best for him to go and have a great year and not be distracted," Cohen said Sunday, via SNY-TV in New York. "I think it's best for the ball club."
Alonso, 29, has a one-year, $20.5M deal and can become a free agent in the offseason.
According to Spotrac, the Mets already have the second-highest payroll ($283.8M) in baseball and are above the estimated luxury tax ($237M). New York already paid a record $101M luxury tax in 2023.
Still, refusing to give Alonso an extension carries risk since he would have several suitors if he entered free agency. In five seasons with New York, the 2019 National League Rookie of the Year has recorded a .251 batting average, 192 home runs, 498 RBI and a .870 OPS.
Last fall, Alonso hired Scott Boras as his agent. He prefers that his clients use their free-agent rights to maximize value.
Cohen claims he has an amicable relationship with Boras and is not worried about losing Alonso. He noted that the club signed pitcher Edwin Diaz (five years, $102M) and outfielder Brandon Nimmo (eight years, $162M) to new deals in 2022.
"We know how to do this," Cohen said. "We did it with Edwin. We did it with Brandon after the season, and so we'll figure it out when we get there."
Regardless, the Mets should try to keep Alonso, who's a bright spot on a team that's underachieved throughout his career. New York has only made one postseason appearance during this time frame.
More must-reads: