It took a few months and a few hardballs for both the Mets and Pete Alonso to shake hands. While the Mets were willing to get back Alonso, the slugger was also eager to get back to his former team, but what came in the middle was his contract expectations. The continuous pounding by his agent, Scott Boras, made things worse, and Alonso coming back to the Mets was a distant dream at one point in time.
It’s better late than never. Pete Alonso ultimately came back to the Mets, albeit with a shorter term and low payouts. Now that he is with the team, obvious questions are asked to Alonso about his views on the infamous contention, and his response is hilarious, to say the least. While Alonso is back to the Mets and the deal ultimately worked out, it is also a reality check for the players hitting free agency. So what does Alonso feel about the contention? What does it mean for both the team and him to come together?
The infamous Pete Alonso saga
The contention for Pete Alonso all started when he chose to hit free agency after his contract with the Mets ended, with expectations of north of $100 million and multi-year offers. His appointment of Scott Boras as his agent confirmed his high expectations. In doing so, Alonso reportedly rejected a seven-year, $158 million extension offer from the Mets to remain with the team. The Mets even offered a new deal for a three-year contract worth around $70 million, which was also rejected by him expecting a higher AAV! Well, that’s enough frustrating for the team to stay behind a player for such a long time.
Pete Alonso was asked if his contract negotiations were “exhausting” in response to Steve Cohen’s previous comments on Amazin’ Day:
“Not for me” pic.twitter.com/3mrlR5cgQ9
— SNY (@SNYtv) February 17, 2025
“Personally, this has been an exhausting conversation and negotiation,” said Mets owner Steve Cohens during a fanfest just before landing Alonso. Well, the asymmetric proposal offered to the team by Scott Boras was the reason that Cohens was visibly frustrated with the contention. Now that Alonso is finally back on the team for two years worth $54 million, fans are interested to know about how he felt during the contention. “Not for me,” said Alonso during his first spring training press meet when asked if he felt as exhausted as Cohens. “Sorry Steve,” he further added, indicating how the Mets owner was cornered in getting him. Well, Pete Alonso has all the right to weigh his worth and negotiate for higher payouts.
Exciting future ahead
The Pete Alonso saga is a reality check! Yes, the players hitting free agency expecting a higher payout got a check about why free agency is not all about getting more. While Alonso was first offered $158 million and now he got signed for $54 million, it shows how cruel free agency can be. While negotiations are required to fetch the best amount, overdoing it may risk undervaluation. Nevertheless, the Mets are now all set to get behind Blue Jays slugger Vladimir Guerrero Jr. with higher financial flexibility. Getting Pete Alonso for a small deal offered the Mets to go big for Guerrero, who reportedly can fetch over $400 million.
On the other hand, Pete Alonso has the opt-out option after this season that may come in handy to get better deals considering he performs to his best this year. Hence, this deal offered enough flexibility for both parties. Fans would be interested to see if the Mets offer a better deal post-2025 to Alonso or if they all go for Guerrero. Things are still not secured for Alonso in the long term, and his 2025 performance can be the answer to all naysayers!
This year would be an exciting year for the Mets with enough firepower in the team, and the addition of Pete Alonso is just another step to get to the postseason.
What do you think about Alonso’s contention? Share your views with us below.
The post “Sorry Steve”: Pete Alonso Hilariously Apologizes to Cohen for “Exhausting” Him During Their Negotiations appeared first on EssentiallySports.
