The New York Mets are reaping the rewards of a calculated offseason decision, having secured first baseman Pete Alonso on a team-friendly two-year, $54 million contract with an opt-out clause after the 2025 season, as detailed in a recent article by Zac Wassink. The deal, signed before spring training, has proven to be a steal, with Alonso emerging as one of the National League’s hottest hitters and a driving force behind the Mets’ 20-9 start through April 29, 2025. However, as Mets owner Steve Cohen acknowledged on The Show podcast with Jon Heyman and Joel Sherman, Alonso’s next contract is unlikely to be as cost-effective, a reality Cohen seems prepared to face.
Alonso’s performance this season has been nothing short of spectacular, potentially the best version of the “Polar Bear” yet, as noted by The Athletic’s Will Sammon. Through Monday’s 19-5 rout of the Washington Nationals, Alonso led the Mets with a .337 batting average, 6 home runs (tied with outfielder Brandon Nimmo), 27 RBI, and a 1.088 OPS, per ESPN stats. In the Nationals game, Alonso went 3-for-5 with a home run, a double, and 4 RBI, showcasing the power and consistency that have made him a fan favorite since his 2019 debut, when he set a rookie record with 53 homers. His 2025 production has been a key factor in the Mets’ early dominance, with the team winning 9 of their last 11 games, including a four-game split with the Nationals highlighted by Monday’s thrashing, where Nimmo drove in a franchise-record-tying 9 RBI, per ESPN.
Cohen, speaking before Monday’s game, expressed a pragmatic view on Alonso’s future, telling Heyman and Sherman, “He’s a great Met, and I said this last year, if we can work it out, we’ll work it out, but he’s going to go explore his market, and you know that’s his right,” as reported by Christian Arnold of the New York Post. Cohen added, “It’s hard to know how those things work out. I know we’re happy with him. I believe he’s happy to be a Met and that’s a good place to start in any future discussions.” Alonso, who turned 30 in December 2024, is on pace for a career year, projecting to 34 homers and 151 RBI over 162 games, numbers that could command a significant contract in free agency—potentially in the $150-200 million range over 5-6 years, based on recent deals for first basemen like Matt Olson (8 years, $168 million with Atlanta in 2022).
While Alonso thrives, the Mets are still waiting for their other big offseason acquisition, All-Star outfielder Juan Soto, to find his groove. Soto, signed to a 15-year, $765 million contract in December 2024 that could exceed $800 million with incentives, per Spotrac, has struggled early in his Mets tenure. Through April 29, 2025, Soto is slashing .257/.378/.410 with a .787 OPS, 3 home runs, and 12 RBI, a far cry from his 2024 performance with the Yankees, where he hit .288/.419/.569 with 41 homers and 109 RBI. His last home run came on April 15, and his signature “Soto Shuffle”—a celebratory move after drawing walks—has been absent, reflecting his frustration. Soto told Sammon, “It’s going to come out one day. It just depends—I just gotta feel it,” signaling his confidence in a turnaround.
Cohen, however, remains unfazed, telling SNY’s Danny Abriano, “If you ask him, he’d probably say it’s not going as what he hoped. That’s not what the back of his baseball card would say. But saying that, there’s a lot of subtle things that he does that I really think matters. The way that he works the count, makes pitchers throw extra pitches, really matters.” Cohen added, “I’m not worried about Juan,” a stance that aligns with Soto’s track record—he’s led the league in walks three times (2019, 2020, 2021) and has a career .421 on-base percentage. Still, the Mets didn’t invest nearly $800 million for Soto to merely get on base; they expect the power and production that made him a four-time All-Star. Soto’s 15.2% walk rate in 2025 is elite, but his .153 ISO (isolated power) is his lowest since 2018, per FanGraphs, a concerning trend for a team relying on him to anchor their lineup alongside Alonso.
The Mets’ early success—20-9, best in MLB through April 29—has been buoyed by a balanced attack. Nimmo’s 2-homer, 9-RBI performance against the Nationals, combined with contributions from Jeff McNeil (a .280 average in his return from injury) and Mark Vientos (5 homers), has kept them atop the NL East, 3 games ahead of the Braves. Their pitching, led by Kodai Senga (2.45 ERA in 6 starts) and a bullpen with a 3.12 ERA (6th in MLB), has held firm despite injuries to Edwin Díaz and Tylor Megill. But as the Mets open a three-game series against the Arizona Diamondbacks (15-13) on April 29 at Citi Field, the pressure is on Soto to deliver the superstar production his contract demands. If he doesn’t heat up soon, the Mets may find it challenging to maintain their torrid pace in the NL, even with Alonso’s MVP-caliber start. For now, Cohen’s faith in both players sets the stage for a pivotal stretch as the Mets aim to solidify their status as contenders.
