Oct 2, 2024; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Astros third base Alex Bregman (2) warms up before game two of the Wildcard round for the 2024 MLB Playoffs against the Detroit Tigers at Minute Maid Park. Thomas Shea-Imagn Images

Why Mets made right choice choosing Pete Alonso over Alex Bregman

Originally posted on New York Mets on SI | By Troy Brock | Last updated Feb 13, 2025 12:00 PM ET

The New York Mets have dodged a massive bullet with the announcement that Alex Bregman, a free agent the team had interest in earlier this offseason, signed with the Boston Red Sox.

After saying all winter that the reason he was still on the market was due to not receiving an offer with enough years, the soon-to-be 31-year-old opted to go with the shortest offer with the highest AAV.

Official offers to Alex Bregman:

Astros = 6 years / $156 million

Tigers = 6 years / $171.5 million

Cubs = 4 years / $120 million

Red Sox = 3 years / $120 million ✅
— Ben Verlander (@BenVerlander) February 13, 2025

For those of you keeping score at home, the Houston Astros, Bregman's former team, offered the infielder an AAV of $26 million over six years, the length he was reportedly looking for. The Detroit Tigers offered an AAV of $28.6 million, and the Chicago Cubs' was $30 million. Instead, Bregman's AAV sits at $40 million.

There is nothing wrong with players getting paid big money, and the Mets have shown no aversion to doing just that. After all, Juan Soto was signed to the largest contract in the history of professional sports, not just MLB.

But the issue lies in the way things were handled. The old adage "actions speak louder than words" comes to mind with the preceding, as it is now evident that the length of the deal was never the issue. It was always about money.

Reports out of Boston indicate that Bregman will be playing second base for the team, with Rafael Devers remaining at third base.

The expectation is Alex Bregman will play second base for Boston, sources tell ESPN. Even though the Red Sox have top prospect Kristian Campbell coming, they saw Bregman having enough of an impact that they offered $40 million a year — with deferrals — to make the deal happen.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) February 13, 2025

The Mets dodged a bullet

Whether Bregman stayed at the hot corner or moved to the keystone for the Mets, it would not have done enough to move the needle like bringing Pete Alonso back has, especially with a $40 million AAV.

This article first appeared on New York Mets on SI and was syndicated with permission.

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