“As we sit here today, it’s difficult for me to consider a trade of Alonso all that likely, even in July,” DiComo wrote for a newsletter shared on Tuesday. “(Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns and team owner Steve Cohen) know how unpopular it would be. They also have to believe they’ll be the heavy favorites to re-sign Alonso in free agency. Unless the relationship deteriorates significantly between now and midseason, it’s reasonable to think Alonso will remain a Met at least for the duration of the summer, and quite possibly for many years to come.”
Alonso raised eyebrows when he hired Scott Boras as his new agent shortly before the slugger was heavily linked with the Chicago Cubs this past October. More recently, Bob Nightengale of USA Today predicted the Mets will make Alonso available to other teams ahead of this summer’s trade deadline. It was also said that the popular “Polar Bear” isn’t expected to sign an extension before he reaches free agency, and it was later suggested Alonso may want to one day feature for either the Cubs or the New York Yankees.
As recently as last week, Stearns insisted he’s “pretty darn confident (Alonso) is going to be our first baseman on Opening Day.” Meanwhile, DiComo explained why Alonso hiring Boras isn’t necessarily worrisome regarding the 29-year-old’s future in Queens beyond 2024.
“While baseball’s most famous agent rightfully has a reputation as a hard-line negotiator, he also has a lengthy history of re-signing players to their previous franchises,” DiComo wrote. “(Mets outfielder) Brandon Nimmo was an example of that last winter.”
Nimmo signed an eight-year contract reportedly worth $162M to stay with the Mets in December 2022.
DiComo acknowledged “it doesn’t seem likely” the Mets will extend Alonso before free agency. That doesn’t change the fact that Cohen theoretically can outbid any other owner for Alonso’s services come November. For now, Cohen and Stearns will hope Alonso playing in a contract year will help guide the Mets back to the playoffs following a disappointing 2023 season.
