Why Pete Alonso is a big winner of Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s Blue Jays extension

After much uncertainty about his Toronto Blue Jays future, first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is officially in for the long haul with his new 14-year, $500 million extension. 

Guerrero Jr., who just turned 26 in March, was slated to become the top free agent on the market after the 2025 season, where he likely would've commanded a figure similar to what he received from the Blue Jays given his perfect blend of age and talent. 

But now that Guerrero Jr. is off the table for the remaining 29 MLB clubs, a new door has seemingly opened for a different slugger this winter: New York Mets first baseman Pete Alonso. 

Alonso, as you may recall, was talking to the Blue Jays this offseason before ultimately re-signing with the Mets on a two-year, $54 million contract in free agency, a saga which dragged out for months. The 30-year-old's deal includes an opt-out after year one, which now becomes even more important in the wake of the Guerrero-Blue Jays agreement.

With no other major competition at first base this coming winter, Alonso could be set to hit the jackpot in a big way should he opt out, and provided that he continues to hit at a pace close to his current clip. 

Nine games into 2025, the two-time Home Run Derby champion has three home runs and a strong 1.066 OPS, both of which lead the Mets thus far. 

Granted, it's unlikely that Alonso will continue to rake at that level over 162 games, but one thing is for sure: he's as durable as they come, having never played less than 152 games over a full season (not including the COVID-shortened 2020 campaign in which he appeared in 57 out of a possible 60 contests). And he's on pace to become the Mets' franchise home run leader this season. 

So while Vladimir Guerrero Jr. celebrates his well-deserved Blue Jays extension, Pete Alonso might also be a dark-horse winner here when it's all said and done.