Mets legend shares message for Pete Alonso ahead of walk year

New York Mets legend Darryl Strawberry left the club as a free agent after the 1990 season and thus knows plenty about what current Mets All-Star first baseman Pete Alonso is going through as Alonso remains on track to reach free agency this fall. 

On Thursday, Strawberry revealed some advice he offered Alonso while visiting the Mets at spring training. 

"I said, 'I was put in the same situation by the organization,'" Strawberry explained, according to Tim Healey of Newsday. "It ensures you’re going to have a good year. If you put a guy in a position to have a good year — and he’s a [motivated] ballplayer — more than likely he’s going to go out and have a good year. That’s the upside to it." 

Strawberry hasn't been shy about the fact that he hopes Mets owner Steve Cohen will pay Alonso sooner rather than later. However, there's no indication the parties will put pen to paper on an agreement before Opening Day. 

Some believe Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns could make the "Polar Bear" available to other clubs ahead of this summer's trade deadline because history suggests Stearns won't want to sign a first baseman who turns 30 years old in December to a long-term deal. 

"Just tell him to enjoy it and have fun," Strawberry continued. "It doesn’t last forever. Make the best of it and go out and have a monster year, then you’re a free agent." 

Per the Baseball Almanac website, Alonso will begin this season fourth in Mets history with 192 career home runs. Strawberry holds the franchise record with 252 homers but sounds ready to move down to second on the list. 

"I hope he breaks it," Strawberry said about Alonso's pursuit of Mets history. "The record has been there forever." 

Alonso, of course, can only say so much about the topic without knowing for sure where he'll be playing home games by the first weekend of August. 

"That’d be really special," Alonso said about possibly becoming the Mets' all-time home run king. "Obviously, [Strawberry is] such an iconic player, he means so much to this organization. If that were to happen, that would be a huge honor." 

Cohen may have to hand Alonso a blank check if the slugger even flirts with breaking Strawberry's record this year to give paying customers an early Christmas gift that's already on their wish lists.