Mets president addresses uncertain future of Pete Alonso after season collapse

Back in February, first baseman Pete Alonso had to accept a two-year, $54M contract with a player opt-out after the 2025 season to return to the New York Mets ahead of spring training. 

The fact that Alonso revealed shortly after the Mets' disappointing campaign came to an end on Sunday that he would be opting out of his deal and re-entering the free-agency market seemed to suggest he won't offer his current employer any type of hometown discount this fall. While speaking with reporters on Monday, Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns addressed the uncertain future of one of the club's most popular players. 

Would David Stearns welcome Pete Alonso back to New York Mets?

"Pete is a great Met," Stearns said about Alonso, per Alex Smith of SNY. "He had a fantastic year. I said this last year and it worked out – I’d love to have Pete back and we’ll see where the offseason goes." 

ESPN stats show that Alonso ended the regular season ranked second in all of MLB with 126 RBI, eighth with 38 home runs and 11th with an .871 OPS. That said, Will Sammon of The Athletic noted that "two high-ranking evaluators from different teams" now feel that Alonso "has likely reached the point in his career where" he needs to serve more as a designated hitter for any club. According to Sammon, Alonso was a DH in just three games over the past two campaigns. 

Stearns' handling of Alonso's previous free-agency journey indicated those who said the executive wasn't keen on locking down a right-handed power-hitting first baseman in his 30s via a long-term agreement were correct. While Alonso turns 31 in December, the Mets' all-time home run king is beloved among members of the club's fan base: