PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — Pete Alonso, speaking with reporters Monday for the first time since the New York Mets’ playoff exit nearly four months ago, said the long negotiations during his free agency didn’t change his relationships with anyone in the club.
“For me, this was it,” Alonso said. “Throughout the entire offseason, we had the best dialogue from the Mets. That was it. And for us, this was the best opportunity. I’m just really happy to be back. I mean, this was it.”
A six-year MLB veteran, Alonso’s free agency stretched into February. The Mets and Alonso formalized their $54 million, two-year contract last week on the same day spring training opened in Florida with the team’s first formal workout for pitchers and catchers.
“For me, this was it.”
Pete Alonso was asked if he was ever close to going anywhere except the Mets in free agency: pic.twitter.com/uRvntsDsRs
— SNY (@SNYtv) February 17, 2025
Alonso can opt out after the 2025 season to become a free agent again.
Last month at the Mets’ Amazin’ Day fan event at Citi Field, owner Steve Cohen referred to the negotiations with Alonso as “exhausting.”
A couple weeks later, however, Cohen and Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns met with Alonso and agent Scott Boras in Tampa, where both parties hashed things out in what became a turning point for the process. Alonso said Monday that in-person meeting meant a lot to him.
Alonso, 30, has spent his entire professional career with the Mets organization and ranks third for the franchise with 226 home runs, trailing David Wright (242) and Darryl Strawberry (252). Since Alonso made his debut in 2019, only New York Yankees star Aaron Judge has hit more home runs (232).
While playing in all 162 games last season, Alonso hit 34 home runs with a .240 batting average. He drove in 88 runs, though he posted a career-worst .788 OPS. He did, however, match his 123 OPS+ from 2023.
(Top photo: Rich Storry / Getty Images)
