Steven Cohen, the big boss of the New York Mets, dropped a bit of news on Sunday. He mentioned, quite casually, that there haven’t been any chit-chats about a contract extension for Pete Alonso, the team’s star first baseman. With free agency looming over Alonso, Cohen thinks it’s better for Pete to focus on playing ball, especially with the season’s first pitch set for March 28. “We haven’t had any discussion and I think at this point, for Pete, it’s best for him to go and have a great year and not be distracted,” Cohen spilled to the press, the Associated Press getting the scoop among others.
Alonso’s Stellar Record
Alonso isn’t just any player. At 29, he’s already a three-time All-Star and snagged the Rookie of the Year Award. His journey in baseball has been with the Mets all the way. With a batting average of .251, an on-base percentage of .342, and slugging .528, he’s notched 192 homers and roughly 17.3 Wins Above Replacement over five seasons. Plus, the fans absolutely adore him.
Free Agency: A Strategy or a Risk?
Now, letting a player walk into free agency isn’t always a goodbye. Take the New York Yankees, for instance. They’ve let their stars test the waters, only to reel them back in with a shiny new contract. The Mets have played this game too, with Brandon Nimmo and Edwin DÃaz making comebacks. But, there’s a bit of a buzz around the league. Some folks, chatting with CBS Sports, wonder if David Stearns, the Mets’ new baseball head honcho, would open the team’s wallet wide for Alonso. After all, Alonso is a right-handed first baseman knocking on 30’s door. In the analytical world Stearns lives in, that’s a profile you can find elsewhere. Yet, Alonso might just be the exception to Stearns’ rule.
For the moment, the Mets aren’t rushing to the altar with Alonso. It seems they’re content to watch how the season unfolds.
