Pete Alonso named 'most intriguing player' for 2023 Mets

ESPN's David Schoenfield has named slugger Pete Alonso "the most intriguing player" to follow on the 2023 edition of the New York Mets. 

Schoenfield noted that Alonso finished the 2022 campaign tied with Aaron Judge of the New York Yankees for an MLB-best 131 RBIs that set a new Mets single-season record. 

"I'm curious to see if Alonso can be the first hitter to crack 140 RBIs since Prince Fielder and Ryan Howard in 2009," Schoenfield explained. Schoenfield added that Alonso "excelled with runners in scoring position in 2022, hitting .300/.424/.675, compared to .271/.352/.518 overall." 

Alonso is a fascinating choice for multiple reasons. Mets ace Max Scherzer can opt out of his contract after the upcoming season. Outfielder Brandon Nimmo could soon be named the next Mets captain. 

Three-time Cy Young Award winner Justin Verlander joined the club via a two-year, $86.66 million deal that includes a vesting third-year option before he celebrated his 40th birthday earlier this week. Shortstop Francisco Lindor is hoping to prove he's more so the player from 2022 than from 2021. 

One thing Schoenfield didn't mention is Alonso's contract situation. The 28-year-old isn't eligible for free agency until after the 2024 season but is a beloved fan-favorite who seemingly would sign an extension with the Mets today if he received a fair deal. 

Big-spending Mets owner Steve Cohen has embraced a "World Series or bust" mentality en route to accumulating baseball's largest payroll, but there's currently no indication he is all that close to locking Alonso down. 

While there's no rush to sign Alonso to an extension before Opening Day, paying him extra now could ultimately save Cohen and the Mets some money down the road if the two-time All-Star selection continues to improve. 

As Anthony DiComo recently wrote for the MLB website, some within the Mets believe Alonso could follow in Judge's footsteps and hit as many as 62 home runs in a single season as soon as this year.