We are just a little over a month away from the July 30th trade deadline in Major League Baseball.
As is always the case, there are several big names who are being floated around as possible trade candidates.
Perhaps no name is bigger than New York Mets star slugger Pete Alonso.
Alonso is currently in the final year of his deal, and while most have long assumed it’d only be a matter of time before Pete and the Mets worked out an extension, there has reportedly been very little progress in negotiations.
There’s nothing baseball fans love more than a home-grown star who cares as much about the team as they do.
In many ways, Alonso had been pinpointed to be David Wright 2.0 … Someone who Mets fans could be proud of – and most importantly – someone who would ultimately lead the club to World Series titles.
However, we are entering a bit of a crossroads in the Alonso-Mets partnership.
At 35-38, the Mets are very much alive for a National League Wild Card spot. However, owner Steve Cohen has made it clear time and time again that he’s not “all-in” on the 2024 season.
You get the sense that if the Mets feel they could get enough in return, they would be more than open to dealing Alonso – as painful as they might be for some.
Of course, some destinations would be easier to swallow than others for Mets fans.
(You know where I’m going with this…)
According to Bleacher Report’s Zachary Rymer, the crosstown rival New York Yankees could emerge as a serious contender to land Alonso in a trade.
“The Yankees haven’t had much trouble scoring runs. Or really any, as they’re up to an MLB-leading 359 for the season,” Rymer stated.
“Their lineup nonetheless feels thin. Aaron Judge and Juan Soto are obviously amazing, but then you get into a discussion about their next-best hitter that, frankly, doesn’t have a satisfactory answer.
“Though Gleyber Torres is the bigger disappointment on the right side of the infield, Rizzo has been the bigger offender on offense. His eight home runs only do so much to redeem a .626 OPS, the lowest such mark among Yankees regulars.”
Rymer suggested the Mets could send Alonso, along with pitcher Adam Ottavino and cash to the Bombers in exchange for top pitching prospect Chase Hampton.
The Yankees are one of the biggest surprises in all of baseball. Most people expected them to be good – but not THIS good.
At 51-25, they currently have the best record in the Majors and could very well be the favorites to win the World Series.
Although Alonso isn’t having his best season (.243 BA, 16 HR’s, 42 RBI’s, .796 OPS), he would seemingly fit flawlessly into the Bombers’ lineup.
(Although that would drive Mets fans absolutely crazy to say the least.)
What are your thoughts on the trade proposal?
Could you actually see Cohen and company sending Alonso to the YANKEES?!? … It’s hard to imagine the Mets doing that, knowing full well how much it would anger the fan base.
(But then again, these are the Mets we’re talking about … Anything is possible.)
At the end of the day, will Alonso be traded? … Or will he and the Mets be able to work out a long-term extension???