Insider updates if Mets expect Pete Alonso to join Blue Jays, other club

It was reported back in the middle of January that the New York Mets' re-signing of outfielder Jesse Winker showed the club was pivoting away from possibly retaining All-Star first baseman Pete Alonso. However, the situation took a turn when Mets owner Steve Cohen resumed conversations with Alonso’s camp last week amid rumors suggesting the Toronto Blue Jays were engaged in serious talks with the "Polar Bear." 

On Monday, MLB insider Andy Martino of SNY explained why it still makes plenty of sense for the Mets and Alonso to reunite before spring training games get underway later this month. 

"On Jan. 16, I was one of several reporters who heard and relayed that the Mets expected Pete Alonso to sign elsewhere," Martino noted. "According to league sources, the organization reached that conclusion because Alonso turned down their offer of a three-year contract that contained opt-outs and included deferred money that would have elevated the total to well over $70M. If he said no to that, the Mets thought, he must have a better deal elsewhere. But now it is February, and Alonso is still a free agent."

It's unknown exactly how much money Alonso expected to receive months ago, but it's also no secret his free-agency journey hasn't gone as he hoped. Martino directly said Monday that Alonso is now "without a publicly known suitor" after he and the Blue Jays failed to come to an agreement to his liking. Meanwhile, the Mets' re-signing of reliever Ryne Stanek followed by their signing of utility infielder Nick Madrigal to an inexpensive deal seemingly left available space on the club's payroll for a proven commodity such as Alonso. 

Martino mentioned that Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns "always preferred to have Alonso" on the roster for at least the 2025 season, in part so the slugger can serve as lineup protection for All-Star outfielder and offseason acquisition Juan Soto. Meanwhile, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reported last week that "it feels like Alonso desperately hopes to return" to Queens. Bob Nightengale of USA Today later repeated that take and said that it's "almost inevitable that a resolution will be reached" between Alonso and the Mets. 

"It’s hard to see anything that would prevent a warm reunion," Martino added about the Mets welcoming Alonso back after Cohen said that the negotiation process has been "an exhausting" one. At this point, both the Mets and Alonso probably need each other coming off the club's trip to the 2024 National League Championship Series.