Mets Facing Major Pete Alonso Decision After Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s $500 Million Extension
Mets Facing Major Pete Alonso Decision After Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s $500 Million Extension
The New York Mets were viewed as one team that could pursue Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. in next year’s free agency, to eventually replace Pete Alonso.
Of course, those dreams are now dead in the water, with Guerrero signing a 14-year, $500 million extension, making him the third highest paid player in MLB history and keeping him with Toronto through the 2039 season.
Now, the Mets are faced with a major decision on whether or not to give Alonso an extension, as he’s currently playing the first season of a two-year, $54 million contract, but considering he has a player option, could hit the open market after 2025.
New York Mets first base Pete Alonso (20.
New York Mets first baseman Pete Alonso (20. Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
There’s no doubt that a player like Alonso deserves a large contract, because through his first six seasons at the MLB level, he’s accumulated 3,139 at-bats, 781 hits, 493 runs scored, 226 home runs, 586 RBI and an OPS of .854.
He’s also earned himself some impressive personal accolades, having won the NL Rookie of the Year back in 2019 for the Mets and making four All-Star appearances.
Alonso also isn’t expected to make nearly the kind of money that Guerrero fetched, with Spotrac predicting that his market value will earn him a six-year, $174 million extension.
That certainly puts some ease on the Mets’ checkbook, as they already have an active payroll that reaches $321.9 million, which is the second-highest of any MLB team.
New York Mets right fielder Juan Soto (22) looks across the field.
