First baseman Pete Alonso finds himself addressing questions about his uncertain future, even as the New York Mets unexpectedly surge in their bid for postseason contention late in the spring.
When recently asked by Bill Ladson of the MLB website if he believes he’ll remain with the Mets past the July 30 MLB trade deadline, Alonso responded optimistically, “I hope so, because that means that we are playing good baseball. We are playing winning baseball. For me, this is a special place. I love the guys and the staff in the clubhouse. This is home.” Alonso, who has been with the Mets since his MLB debut in 2019 and is set to become a free agent after this season, continues to be the subject of trade rumors. One unnamed club official suggested that Alonso and other pending free agents could become available shortly after the All-Star break.
Despite the speculation, the Mets have recently enjoyed a six-game winning streak, improving their record to 34-37 and positioning themselves just one game behind in the race for the National League’s third wild-card spot.
In his conversation with Ladson, Alonso expressed his fondness for playing in New York, emphasizing, “It’s a really special place. I would like to stay.” However, he noted there hasn’t been significant progress in contract talks with the Mets, hinting at a potentially complicated negotiation ahead due to his agent Scott Boras’s approach and his own preference not to give a “hometown discount.”
As the Mets aim to continue their winning ways heading into the All-Star break, Alonso’s future remains a storyline to watch amidst their postseason aspirations.
