Could Pete Alonso return to the Mets on a short-term deal?

Pete AlonsoThe market hasn't yet formed the way he and agent Scott Boras had hoped. But with the pitcher and catcher still more than a month away from returning to spring training, there's plenty of time left for a deal to get done and there's still room for Alonso. Normal spring training. As with any high-profile free agent, one factor likely to influence the situation is the team's fears in terms of asking price. Mark Feinsand of MLB.com previously reported: suggested Boras Corporation used the following contracts: prince fielder (9 years, $214 million) was used as the basis for negotiation comparison.

Boras categorically refuted this in a comment this morning. To SNY's Andy Martino. Boras told Martino that a '10-year deal' like Fielder's was simply 'not relevant to the current Alonso negotiations'. (Fielder's contract is actually for 13 years, but that only further undermines Boras' point.)

Despite that backlash, talks regarding Alonso are likely to have stalled for several years. The Mets famously offered him a seven-year, $158 million extension in 2023. This includes Alonso's final season of arbitration (2024), in which he received $20.5 million. He needs to make over $137.5MM over the next six seasons to get ahead of the betting on him.

Of course, not everything needs to be in one contract. We've seen in the past a lot of free agents sign opt-out contracts and get ahead of themselves through multiple contract processes with less than expected interest in free agency. This may not be the ideal course of action for most players, but it can certainly benefit them.

More specifically, these actions were common to both high-end and mid-level Boras customers. It doesn't always work. Just ask. Jordan Montgomery —But there are many success stories.

Matt Chapman, Blake Snell, Carlos Rodon and Carlos Correa These are all recent examples. Chapman signed a three-year, $54 million contract with an opt-out in San Francisco and signed a $151 million contract extension. He will ultimately earn $169 million over seven years. Snell received a two-year, $62 million contract from the Giants last winter after rejecting an offer in the $150 million range from the Yankees. (He later disputed that number, saying it was too embarrassing.) He opted out and got $182 million from the Dodgers, bringing his six-year earnings to $214 million (nearly a third of that from although postponed). Rodon opted out of the second season of a two-year, $44 million contract with the Giants and earned $162 million in the Bronx. Correa signed a three-year, $105.3 million contract in Minnesota, but opted out and had a strange free agent odyssey. As a result, he was able to secure an additional $200 million in coverage in Minnesota, even after a pair of failed physicals in San Francisco and Queens.

It's not yet clear whether Alonso will ultimately go that route, but former Mets GM Jim Duquette (2003-04) currently has MLB Network Radio on SiriusXM. report Boras and Alonso signed three-year contracts with the Mets that included opt-outs. And only the Mets. Despite reported offers from player camp, Duquette suggests a deal is nowhere near done at this point.

Mets' 3-year deal — something. Cody Bellinger Mold — it will make a lot of sense for both parties. New York will maintain the NL home run lead from Alonso's big league debut, and will do so without having to commit long-term to a 30-year-old first baseman who offers minimal fielding/on-base value. Paired with Alonso Juan Soto The centerpiece of the Mets' order will be huge.

In Alonso's case, he'll secure multiple seasons at a probably higher annual percentage rate than he could get on a long-term deal. Bellinger's $80 million contract guaranteed him $60 million over the first two seasons of his three-year term if he chose to waive his first opt-out (which he did). The same setup for Alonso means he could earn $53 million in 2024-25 and $80.5 million in 2024-26, including the $20.5 million he earned in his final arbitration season. If the goal is to knock down the $158 million he declined in 2023 (which would also have included the 2024-30 seasons), he'll be on his way.

Moreover, Alonso will have a chance to improve on the decline in 2024 that has certainly hindered interest. The slugger didn't have a bad season. His .240/.329/.459 slash was 22% better than league average on a wRC+ basis. His 34 home runs were a definite plus. But Alonso's last two seasons haven't been as dominant as 2019-22, when he hit a combined .261/.349/.535 (37% better than average).

Showing more in line with that form in 2025 would potentially open Alonso up for a much bigger payday, leading to him earning a premium salary in 2025. He would also have the advantage of re-entering the open market without a qualifying offer. Relevant draft pick compensation is hanging over his head. Players can only receive one QO in their career, and Alonso had his QO denied by the Mets last November.