Pete Alonso’s return growing less likely, according to Mets’ top executives

It looks like Pete Alonso is going to go and go and go.

The first Amazin’ Day fan fest at Citi Field didn’t bring with it a dramatic resolution to Alonso’s free-agent saga — but it did seem to confirm that the New York Mets’ most popular and most prolific power hitter is likely to sign elsewhere as spring training approaches.

“We made a big offer for Pete,” Mets owner Steve Cohen explained during a conversation with president of baseball operations David Stearns and manager Carlos Mendoza. “This has been an exhausting conversation and negotiation.

“Soto was tough,” Cohen said, referring to the talks that ended with New York star Juan Soto signing a record $765 million, 15-year deal last month. “This is worse.”

Alonso, who like Soto is represented by agent Scott Boras, has been a fan favorite since his arrival in 2019, when he hit a rookie-record 53 home runs. The 30-year-old first baseman has 226 homers, third-most in franchise history, and saved New York from being eliminated from the playoffs last October with a go-ahead drive off Milwaukee closer Devin Williams in Game 3 of the National Wild Card Series.

A standing-room-only crowd at the Piazza Club chanted Alonso’s name as Cohen and Stearns answered a question about Alonso’s negotiations from moderator Gary Cohen, the Mets’ play-by-play announcer on SNY.

“I think we all love Pete, and we’ve said that many times,” said Stearns, who spoke opposite Steve Cohen. “I think as we’ve gone through this process, we’ve continued to express that. We also realize that this is a business and that Pete, as a free agent, deserves the right and has the right — he’s earned the privilege, really, to see what’s out there.”

“We also feel good about the young players that come through our system,” Stearns said to some light booing. “We saw that last year. And that’s not always the most popular opinion, but we saw that last year. We’ll need to see it again.”

Alonso and fellow Boras client Alex Bregman are two of the most notable players who remain unsigned from a hot free agent market for cornerbacks. Former Arizona first baseman Christian Walker ($60 million, three years with Houston) is the only cornerback to sign a multi-year contract. Josh Bell, Carlos Santana and 2022 NL MVP Paul Goldschmidt all signed one-year deals.

“I don’t like the structures that are presented to us,” Steve Cohen said. “It’s very asymmetrical against us and I feel that strongly. I would never say no. You know, there’s always a possibility.”

“But the reality is that as we move forward, we continue to bring in players. As we continue to bring in players, the reality is that it becomes more difficult to fit Pitt into the expensive group of players that we already have.”

Brett Batty and Mark Vientos, who each came through the farm system as third basemen, said Saturday they have taken reps at first base this winter. Mendoza said he liked the Mets’ depth at the position, including Joey Meneses, who struck out 29 homers in the Washington Nationals’ previous three seasons before signing a minor league contract with New York in November.

Hours before the board convened, Alonso’s teammates – as well as Hall of Famer Mike Piazza – expressed hope that he and the club could reunite.

“I would love to see Pete back with us, but I also understand that I don’t make those decisions and that’s between Pete and our front office and David and Steve,” outfielder Brandon Nimmo said.

“Listen, he’s a special player. People who can hit 40 don’t walk down the street,” Piazza said. “When he’s really at his level, he’s a special player. From a personal point of view, I hope they can come up with something.”

Amazin’ Day featured 18 panels about the Mets’ past, present and future and was attended by more than 50 players, alumni and prospects. Fans were able to tour Citi Field, including the clubhouse and bullpen.

Notes: Soto was expected to attend but four potential trips out of the Dominican Republic were cancelled. Flight problems also prevented Denniel Nunez and Huascar Brazopan from making their expected visit. Nimmo and Francisco Lindor said they expect to be 100% when the Mets take their first full workout of spring training on February 17.

Associated Press report.

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