Pete Alonso needs to be Mets' biggest offseason move

The 2023 offseason has been a departure from the New York Mets' recent norms.

Spending had not been an issue since Steve Cohen had taken over as the Mets principal owner. Their offseasons were marked by high-profile, high-priced acquisitions. The likes of Max Scherzer, Justin Verlander and Kodai Senga were brought in as free agents. Francisco Lindor was acquired in a trade and promptly signed to a long-term extension. Brandon Nimmo returned on a long-term deal after being allowed to test free agency. 

This offseason has been the opposite. The Mets' biggest acquisition may be Luis Severino. Every signing has been a one- or two-year deal. There is, however, one big splash that the Mets can make — a long term deal for Pete Alonso.

An extension for Alonso will be complicated. In November, his agent, Scott Boras, referenced Mark Teixeira ($180 million in 2007) and Prince Fielder ($214 million in 2011) as starting points, per the New York Post. He feels Alonso is worth more than that, especially in a different economy more than a decade later. 

Meanwhile, the Mets' offer was not close to how Boras valued Alonso's services. This leaves the Mets in a difficult spot with their star first baseman heading into 2024. He is a free agent after the season, but the Mets want to contend this year. This may be the time to trade Alonso, but David Stearns beginning his tenure by trading a fan favorite would be a disaster. 

There are pitfalls to any potential extension as well. Alonso turns 29 years old this season and could spend the majority of any deal on the backside of his career. Players of his type do not have the same value so any deal could be an overpay, especially as no first baseman has signed a deal for more than Teixeira since 2014. 

But it is also an overpay that the Mets need to make. Alonso has been incredibly durable during his career. He has at least 37 homers in all of his non-COVID seasons. His immense power is key to the Mets lineup and not easily replaced. Non-athletic, first base only types may be devalued in the present climate but sometimes a team needs to look outside that box. Alonso is the type of player that needs to be evaluated differently.

The New York Mets and Alonso are not close to a possible extension. They need to get it done.