Mets open to Pete Alonso reunion under this condition

But what if Alonso could return without playing first base?

Insider Asserts Mets Could Be Open to Pete Alonso Reunion Amid Position Switch

According to a November 10 article from SNY's Mets insider Andy Martino, the best chance that Alonso has to return to the Mets next season is if he weren't playing first base any longer.

"Another oft-repeated inaccuracy is that Stearns did not want to sign Alonso last winter, and that Steve Cohen did. My information was always that the two were aligned on wanting the player but fearing the downside of a long commitment," Martino wrote.

"They were both happy to have Alonso on [the] team in 2025 — which, in fairness, he almost certainly would not have been had any other club offered a four- or five-year contract. Alonso re-signed with the Mets on a two-year deal that included an inevitable opt-out after year one," he added.

"My hunch is that both Stearns and Cohen would be happy to welcome Alonso back in 2026, albeit with a significant increase in at-bats as designated hitter. They like the person and the ballplayer."

This sentiment makes all the sense in the world from the Mets' side. However, the question is whether Alonso would be willing to become a full-time DH if it meant he could return to the team where he has spent his whole MLB career.

He hasn't appeared eager to give up first base in the past. And if another team is offering as much or more money to play at first, one could see him spurning this potential position switch.

Still, this sentiment suggests there's still hope Alonso could be back in a Mets uniform in 2026, despite Stearns' defensive emphasis.