PORT ST. LUCIE — Pete Alonso may end up playing his entire career on the Mets, but as he heads into the final year of his contract, there is no progress on any sort of contract extension with the team that drafted him.
Alonso reported to Mets camp Saturday. He announced a new initiative by the Alonso Foundation, the charitable organization started by the first baseman and his wife Haley: For every home run the slugger hits in 2024, the Alonso Foundation will donate $1000 to animal shelters to get animals out of facilities that euthanize them because of overcrowding.
But then he faced questions about whether or not he’ll be hitting free agency after the conclusion of the 2024 season.
“I’ve just been sitting back and listening,” Alonso said Saturday after working out with the team for the first time this spring. “The contract matters that we’ve talked about were my one-year contract this year.”
Alonso changed representation in anticipation of his first multi-year deal, leaving his representatives at Apex Baseball for Boras Corporation. He offered little in terms of details, only saying it was a move he felt best for him and his family.
Scott Boras typically likes to take clients to free agency to gauge their markets. Historically, the Wilpon family didn’t like to deal with Boras, but the agent’s relationship with the Mets has changed in recent years as Steve Cohen took over a controlling interest in the club.
Since then, Boras and the Mets have made deals for Max Scherzer and Brandon Nimmo, among others. But so far, nothing for Alonso, a key member of the Mets’ core, a popular fan favorite and a power-hitting first baseman.
“I haven’t really thought of those scenarios because like, the season is not over,” Alonso said. “I just had my first first live BP session. My whole focus this year is to be the best I can be, be as locked in mentally and physically as possible to help this team win. That’s my job. We’ll see what happens in the future. I don’t know what’s going to happen. But I’m fully committed to being the best player and best teammate I can be to help this team win.”
The 2019 NL Rookie of the Year and a three-time All-Star, Alonso has never hit fewer than 37 home runs in a full major league season. He has a career OPS+ of 136 in five years, has scored 40 or more runs and has driven in 100 or more in each of the past two seasons. Alonso became the second-fastest player in history to hit 150 home runs, doing so in 538 games (Ryan Howard holds the record with 150 in 495 games).
At 29, he’s a prime candidate for an extension. But it doesn’t seem as though the Mets have made any offers, other than the $20.5 million arbitration raise he’ll receive this season.
Since his rookie season, Alonso has played for three different managers (nearly four, if you count Carlos Beltran) and will now play for a fourth in Carlos Mendoza. The Mets have had three different general managers (four if you count Jared Porter, who was only on the job for a month), one president of baseball operations and countless hitting coaches.
Though Alonso said the multiple managerial changes didn’t bother him, one could hardly blame him if he decided to seek a team that has shown long-term stability.
For now, he likes the moves David Stearns and his front office made over the winter, and he’s looking forward to being reunited with his teammate from the University of Florida, center fielder Harrison Bader.
“We filled a lot of holes,” Alonso said. “I’m super stoked about having Harrison back. Harrison is a good buddy of mine and has been a good buddy since college. I know that we’ve added some really good starting pitching as well, and some great defensive pieces. I feel like we have a great core and it’s really exciting. I’m really excited to gel and get to know these guys, not just personally, but on the ball diamond as well when we get games going.”
The noise around his contract isn’t going to go away anytime soon. It might even grow louder with each home run he hits. This time next year, Alonso could be in a different camp in a different uniform.
Or, he could be right where is right now with plans to stay for the rest of his playing days.
“That’s something that I’ve definitely thought about,” he said. “I love New York. It’s a really special place for my family and I’ve definitely thought of the idea, definitely welcomed the idea.
“But I can’t predict the future.”
