New Mets manager compares Aaron Judge, Pete Alonso situations

New York Mets manager Carlos Mendoza spent the past four seasons as a bench coach under New York Yankees skipper Aaron Boone and believes his experience working alongside Yankees slugger Aaron Judge can help him handle uncertainty hovering over Mets All-Star first baseman Pete Alonso this offseason. 

"I had that experience with Aaron [Judge] across town when he went through his free agency year and he did what he did," Mendoza said during his Mets introductory news conference, per Dan Martin of the New York Post. "I think I’m gonna be able to use some of my experience to advise [Alonso]."

Yankees senior vice president and general manager Brian Cashman surprisingly told media members ahead of Opening Day 2022 that Judge had rejected a seven-year, $213.5M contract extension. Judge went on to earn American League Most Valuable Player honors and ultimately re-signed with the Yankees via a nine-year deal reportedly worth $360M, and he became the 16th captain in club history even though he said last December he thought Cashman wanted to "turn the fans against me" by disclosing the terms of the team's previous offer. 

As for Alonso, he remains set to reach free agency after next season and has hired Scott Boras as his agent. Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns noted last week he plans to have serious extension talks with Alonso's camp this offseason and does "not anticipate" trading the fan-favorite who turns 29 years old in December, but it was suggested Tuesday that the Amazins would at least listen to proposals from other clubs regarding Alonso's services. 

As shared by Tim Healey of Newsday, Mendoza said Tuesday that Alonso "kept him on the phone for 45 minutes" during a recent conversation. Such a lengthy chat indicates Mendoza expects to have Alonso in his first Mets lineup, but it sounds like at least one club could make Stearns an offer the executive can't refuse for the "Polar Bear" before Christmas.