Mets president shares update on Pete Alonso

New York Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns has repeatedly said for months he does not "anticipate" trading All-Star first baseman Pete Alonso this winter. 

Stearns repeated that take during an appearance on the latest edition of the New York Post's "The Show" podcast that features Joel Sherman and Jon Heyman.

According to Anthony Franco of MLB Trade Rumors, Stearns told Sherman and Heyman he’s "pretty darn confident (Alonso) is going to be our first baseman on Opening Day." 

"He's one of the best power hitters in baseball and we are really fortunate to have him," Stearns said about Alonso, per Pat Ragazzo of Fan Nation's Inside the Mets. "He's a homegrown player. He cares about our organization, and clearly, the fanbase and our organization cares about him. We'd love to keep that going for a long time."

Alonso hired Scott Boras as his agent shortly after the 2023 regular season ended and remains on track to reach free agency this coming fall. After Bob Nightengale of USA Today predicted this past weekend that the Mets will put Alonso "on the trade block in July," Will Sammon and Tim Britton of The Athletic reported "there is little expectation" Alonso and the Mets will sign a contract extension before the 29-year-old hits the open market later this year. 

"We also understand that as players approach free agency, there’s often a desire to test free agency," Stearns added during the podcast. "It’s really tough to line up on these types of deals in the last year of a player’s team control, the last year of arbitration."

For a piece published Thursday morning, ESPN's Paul Hembekides predicted that "the Mets will trade Pete Alonso entering his contract year" largely because of Stearns' history. 

"In his eight seasons as (an executive with the Milwaukee Brewers), Milwaukee used seven different Opening Day first basemen, including Ryan Braun (2018) and Keston Hiura (2021), both of whom converted to the position," Hembekides noted about Stearns. "In other words, Stearns has never prioritized first base. Unless owner Steve Cohen intervenes, Stearns will be more inclined to trade Alonso than extend him, capitalizing on a market devoid of bats like his." 

Stearns' latest comments suggest he and Cohen want to hold onto Alonso, but it seems fans will have to wait until after the 2024 World Series to learn where the "Polar Bear" will call home beyond the upcoming season.