Mets fans made their feelings crystal clear at Saturday’s fan fest, chanting “We want Pete!” as team owner Steve Cohen addressed the crowd about star slugger Pete Alonso’s free agency situation.
But those fans might not like what they heard next.
Cohen didn’t hold back when discussing the ongoing negotiations with Alonso and his agent Scott Boras, calling them “exhausting” and expressing serious concerns about the contract terms being proposed.
“I don’t like the structures that are being presented back to us,” Cohen told the crowd, revealing that the Mets had already made a “significant offer” to their longtime first baseman.
The team reportedly offered Alonso a three-year, $70 million deal earlier this month. That’s slightly more than what the Houston Astros gave Christian Walker in December.
But Alonso, who’s just 29 and has been selected to four All-Star teams, is likely looking for a longer commitment.
“It’s hard to bring Pete into what is a very expensive group of players that we already have,” Cohen explained, hinting at the team’s already massive payroll commitments.
The Mets aren’t completely closing the door on bringing back their fan-favorite first baseman. But Cohen’s public frustration with the negotiations – and his willingness to discuss them openly – suggests the team is preparing for life without Alonso.
“If it stays this way, we may have to go forward with the existing players that we have,” Cohen said.
The Toronto Blue Jays have reportedly shown interest in signing Alonso, who’s been one of baseball’s most consistent power hitters since breaking into the majors.
Baseball insiders say the Mets’ hesitation to offer a longer deal makes some sense. Right-handed first basemen who don’t play elite defense – even ones with Alonso’s power – aren’t typically seen as irreplaceable in today’s game.
But try telling that to the fans still chanting his name.
