New York Mets owner Steve Cohen has expressed frustration with ongoing negotiations to retain slugger Pete Alonso, hinting that the team’s focus may be shifting as the free-agent first baseman explores offers from other teams.
Speaking at the Amazin’ Day FanFest event at Citi Field, Cohen didn’t completely rule out Alonso’s return to the Mets but painted a grim picture of the discussions so far.
“This has been an exhausting conversation in negotiations,” Cohen said, pointing out that the Alonso talks have been even more frustrating than the Juan Soto negotiations.
“Soto was tough. This is worse,” he surprisingly said.
Of course, Cohen was referencing the Mets’ earlier pursuit of Juan Soto, which also proved challenging. However, he indicated the Alonso talks have been even more annoying.
“A lot of it is, we’ve made a significant offer. I don’t like the structures that are presented back to us. I think it’s highly asymmetric against us, and I feel strongly about it,” Cohen added.
Rumors linking Alonso to teams such as the Toronto Blue Jays, Los Angeles Angels, and San Francisco Giants have been swirling in recent weeks.
According to reports, the Mets offered Alonso a three-year, $70 million deal – a number potential suitors like the Angels would need to exceed to secure his services.
Cohen acknowledged Alonso’s right to explore the market. “We’ve made a significant offer to Pete, and what David said is correct – he’s entitled to go out and explore his market. And that’s what he’s doing.”
Alonso, drafted by the Mets in 2016, has spent his entire professional career in New York. He has become a cornerstone of the franchise, ranking third on the team’s all-time home run list with 226.
His presence on and off the field has endeared him to Mets fans, cementing his status as a fan favorite.
Many fans thought it was a foregone conclusion that he’d be staying in Queens, especially after his clutch home run against the Milwaukee Brewers this past October.
However, Cohen expressed concerns about Alonso’s declining numbers over the past three seasons and the financial burden of keeping him in an already-expensive lineup.
“I will never say no,” Cohen said. “There’s always the possibility. But the reality is we’re moving forward, and we continue to bring in players.
“As we continue to bring in players, the reality is it becomes harder to fit Pete into what is a very expensive group of players that we already have. And that’s where we are.”
Cohen did not mince words about his dissatisfaction with the current state of negotiations, suggesting that the two sides remain far apart.
“I’m being brutally honest. I don’t like the negotiations. I don’t like what’s been presented to us,” he said.
“Listen, maybe that changes. Certainly, I’ll always stay flexible. If it stays this way, I think we’ll have to get used to the fact that we may have to go forward with the existing players that we have.”
As spring training rapidly approaches, Alonso’s future with the Mets remains very much uncertain.
Teams like the Angels, Giants, and Blue Jays may now have an opportunity to step in and make a compelling offer to lure the star slugger away from Queens.
Perhaps Alonso will have a heart-to-heart conversation with agent Scott Boras and tell him to cut the crap.
We all know how depressed Freddie Freeman was when he signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers. He made it clear that his heart was – and will always be – in Atlanta.
Alonso still has time to change his tune if he truly wants to stay with the Mets.
What are your thoughts on the situation? … At the end of the day, where will Alonso end up???
