Mets' Pete Alonso again discusses trade-deadline uncertainty

First baseman Pete Alonso understandably can't avoid questions about his uncertain future even amid the New York Mets' unexpected winning streak that has them part of postseason conversations in the final days of spring.

"I hope so," Alonso responded when recently asked by Bill Ladson of the MLB website if he thinks he'll be with the Mets past the July 30 MLB trade deadline. "I really do, because that means that we are playing good baseball. We are playing winning baseball. For me, this is a special place. I love the guys and the staff in the clubhouse. This is home. If I don’t get traded, which I hope I don’t, it means we are playing winning baseball, we are clicking and we are doing what we are supposed to be doing as a team. We are winning games."

Alonso, who has featured only for the Mets since he made his MLB debut in 2019, remains on track to reach free agency after the season and continues to be the subject of numerous trade rumors. One unnamed club official predicted that the Mets could make Alonso and other out-of-contract players available shortly after the All-Star break. According to Ryan Gilbert of Audacy, ESPN's Buster Olney linked Alonso with the Chicago Cubs and Seattle Mariners during Monday's edition of the "Baseball Isn’t Boring" podcast.

However, the Mets began Tuesday in the middle of a six-game winning streak that improved them to 34-37 on the campaign. They headed into the day's MLB action just one game back in the battle for the National League's third wild-card spot.

During his chat with Ladson, Alonso insisted he loves playing for the Mets and calling New York home.

"It’s a really special place," Alonso said. "I would like to stay. It’s a great city. It’s a great place to play. Yeah…this is my ninth year with this organization. I’ve grown up here. It’s just so many special things that have happened. Some of my best memories in life have been in New York."

Alonso indicated there hasn't been much progress regarding contract talks between his camp and the Mets, which isn't surprising considering agent Scott Boras has a history of taking clients like the "Polar Bear" into free agency. It was reported this past winter that people who know Alonso don't view him "as a 'hometown discount' kind of guy."

"As much as people like to blame Scott, it’s the player that has the ultimate choice," Alonso told Ladson. "Every agent — not just Scott — their job is to represent the player as the player wishes. So every player is a case-by-case [basis]."

Alonso likely will stay put as long as the Mets win more than they lose before they enter the All-Star break on July 14. The Amazins will try to inch closer to reclaiming a .500 record when they play at the 33-39 Texas Rangers on Tuesday evening.