The New York Mets made a huge addition to their offense by signing outfielder Juan Soto to a $765 million deal. Will president of baseball operations David Stearns protect his new acquisition in the lineup by re-signing first baseman Pete Alonso?
Soto slugged a career-high 41 home runs for the New York Yankees and finished third in the 2024 American League MVP Award voting with fellow slugger Aaron Judge usually batting behind him in the lineup. Alonso could provide legitimate protection for Soto since he's been one of baseball's best sluggers since his big-league debut.
The right-handed hitter's 226 home runs rank second in MLB since 2019, with only Judge hitting more (232). Stearns and Mets team owner Steve Cohen have publicly stated they'd like Alonso to remain in Queens. But there are several teams in need of a new first baseman. Will the Mets do what's needed to retain their homegrown slugger?
ESPN's David Schoenfield thinks the Polar Bear isn't going anywhere. In his latest batch of predictions for MLB's remaining free agents, he has the Mets re-signing Alonso to a multi-year deal.
"Alonso might be in line for $150 million, but is he worth it? I think that price tag is why he ends up back with the Mets rather than exchanging lineup places with Soto," Schoenfield wrote. "In Alonso, Yankees GM Brian Cashman might see parallels to Giancarlo Stanton: a slow right-handed slugger without any defense locked up to a big contract in his 30s. The Yankees clearly need a first baseman -- they were last in the majors in OPS in 2024 -- but maybe they'll go in a short-term direction, with an eye on pursuing Vladimir Guerrero Jr. next offseason."
Spotrac is projecting Alonso's market value at six years and $174 million. However, Schoenfield is projecting Alonso to sign a six-year, $159 million contract when it's all said and done.
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