The Pete Alonso Conundrum

[ashie62]

Pete likely has two, maybe three years production left as we know him

He will likely not find the longer term deal he is seeking and would likely sign something acceptable to himself and the Mets

I'm happy to have him back. Pete could turn out to be the "value" contract of the off season

Juan Soto is on his fourth organization at age 26 which makes me wonder about him at least a little

Without Pete's postseason homer 2024 lose much of t's touchy feely goodness, at least mine anyway

I'd sign him off that. He also bleeds blue similarly to a guy who is having his number retired this summer

Make it so

[Benjamin Grimm]

Well, Soto was traded by the Nationals and the Padres because neither team thought they'd be able to sign him to a long-term contract, and they wanted to get something more than a draft pick in return.

I think Pete will be back because he's probably worth more to the Mets than to anyone else, and the Mets can also afford more than anyone else. I think he'll be a productive player for at least another five years although his best days are likely behind him.

[metsmarathon]

i think pete can be as productive as ever if he's not being relied on as THE MAN. i think he tries to do too much too often and ends up making bad swing decisions as a result. with soto on board as THE MAN, pete can just relax and be pete, and should play with more freedom, resulting in better performance.

[Centerfield]

Pete's off year doesn't seem quite as bad if you look at OPS+

2019: 147

2020: 122

2021: 133

2022: 146

2023: 123

2024: 123

Basically you can count on him to be in the 120s during his down years, 140s during his good years.

By comparison, Bregman:

2022: 134

2023: 122

2024: 118

A case can be made that Bregman is declining worse than Pete.

And for good measure, Christian Walker

2022: 126

2023: 120

2024: 116

Walker and Bregman give you better defense, but neither give you as much offense as Pete.

[Centerfield]

i think pete can be as productive as ever if he's not being relied on as THE MAN. i think he tries to do too much too often and ends up making bad swing decisions as a result. with soto on board as THE MAN, pete can just relax and be pete, and should play with more freedom, resulting in better performance.

 

And somewhat related to this, I also wonder if his performance would not be improved with the occasional off day. Or at least DH for the day.

[kcmets]

I had 12/20 in the imaginary pool in my head for a Pete-

signing... less than twelve hours left to go...

[whippoorwill]

Come on Pete! 🐻‍❄️

[kcmets]

Under six hours... tick, tick, tick...

[Edgy MD]

"Hello, Hammerjacks!! Were The Pete Alonso Conundrum!! Who's ready to ROCK?!?!?!"

[fimg=650]https://www.progject.com/assets/images/gallery/band.jpg[/fimg]

[MFS62]

I had 12/20 in the imaginary pool in my head for a Pete- signing

Water on the brain?

Later

[kcmets]

I had 12/20 in the imaginary pool in my head for a Pete- signing

Water on the brain?

Later

 

I have zero idea what this reply means.

[MFS62]

I had 12/20 in the imaginary pool in my head for a Pete- signing

Water on the brain?

Later

 

I have zero idea what this reply means.

Swimming pool.

Later

[MFS62]

One Mets site (which I won't dignify by naming it) says that the Mets are interested in Paul Goldschmidt on a short term deal to replace Pete.

UGH!

Later

[metsmarathon]

No worries. Goldy’s a yankee now. Options are dwindling for Pete and the Mets alike.

[Centerfield]

Goldschmidt signed with the Yanks. Naylor traded to Arizona, and then Cleveland turns around and signs Carlos Santana.

Basically all 1B options are just about gone now. (Other than Pete)

[Frayed Knot]

Basically all 1B options are just about gone now. (Other than Pete)

 

At the same time, many of the non-NYM 1B options for Pete are being erased daily as they're filled by someone else.

And then there's the internal 1B option for the Mets: Mark Vientos

This option becomes less attractive and less likely, IMO, as it looks increasingly apparent that Pete isn't going to see an offer north of five years

that he (and we for that matter - read some of the early posts on this thread) thought, just a year or two ago, was likely heading his way.

[Benjamin Grimm]

This was from February 2023:

 

Jim Duquette, on Mets Hot Stove, suggested eight years, $240 million.

 

Wow.

[Edgy MD]

Apart from the trade market, I guess Josh Bell is the best of the rest.

[Gwreck]

Bregman to third/Vientos to first is still probably the best alternative if they don’t sign Pete. After that? It gets much less desirable.

[batmagadanleadoff]

Pete's lucky to even be a free agent right now. Replay the 2019 season under normal circumstances and 1,000 out of 1,000 times, Alonso's debut is held back for the requisite amount of time so as to delay his free agency eligibility until next year. He'd otherwise be a year older entering free agency.

[smg58]

According to Fangraphs, all the first basemen who moved in the last two days except Goldschmidt had a higher WAR last year than Alonso. If he was asking for significantly more than what any of these other players got, I'm not surprised that the other teams looking for first base help all went elsewhere. There was only one team who might value him that much, and right now they appear to be bidding against themselves.

I'd hold firm at the 3 and 60 that Walker got. Walker is older, but he's been the better player each of the last three years.

[kcmets]

Swimming pool.

 

Swimming pool what? Jesus, just spell it out...

[Lefty Specialist]

Bregman to third/Vientos to first is still probably the best alternative if they don’t sign Pete. After that? It gets much less desirable.

 

That wouldn't be terrible, and the threat of Bregman might also entice Pete into something a little more team-friendly both in length and $.

[Centerfield]

Nathaniel Lowe traded to Washington.

Nats now out on Alonso.

[Benjamin Grimm]

I really hope the Mets lock down Pete before the New Year.

[Edgy MD]

Nathaniel Lowe traded to Washington.

Nats now out on Alonso.

 

But are the Rangers really going with Jake Burger?

I guess so, but ... well, Pete Alonso is surely better than that guy.

[Centerfield]

So Alonso won’t be signed by Christmas. Which probably means nothing will change until January.

I’d love to see where the parties stand as of now. I’d guess the Alonso camp is now in “what deal can we take and save face” mode.

[MFS62]

C'mon, Pete. Sign the contract under your tree and give all of us a present.

Do it for the little children.

Please.

Later

[whippoorwill]

And us big kids

[Bob Alpacadaca]

Saw a report that the Mets are offering a three-year, $90 million deal with a player opt out after each year. Same report says Boras is asking for $200 million.