The New York Mets have a big decision to make about bringing back Pete Alonso in the offseason.
This will be the second straight winter where the organization has had to work diligently to bring Alonso back to New York. However, things are more complicated this time around. Danny Abriano of SNY broke down why the team should reunite with Alonso as well as why they should move in a different direction.
On Keeping Alonso in New York:
“He was in the 90th percentile or better this past season in xwOBA, xBA, xSLG, average exit velocity, barrel percentage, hard hit percentage, and bat speed,” wrote Abriano. “And while Alonso could perhaps be seeking a deal worth five or six years at roughly $30 million per season, it’s not a slam dunk that any team will be prepared to give that to him. … As the Mets weigh whether to reunite with Alonso, it’s also worth noting that they don’t have anyone ready to step in at first base if he leaves.”
Alonso’s offense is undeniably strong, and he was part of the reason why the Mets skid kept them in the thick of the playoff race until the final day. The Mets are a considerably worse team without him, even with Juan Soto in right field. Not having a viable replacement also makes it harder to watch him walk away.
On Letting Alonso Go in Free Agency:
“Alonso will be entering his age-31 season in 2026, meaning he’s getting to the point where some regression can be expected,” Abriano wrote. “Alonso was near the very bottom of the league in 2025 when it came to range/Outs Above Average, ranking in the second percentile. His arm also graded out as very poor (fifth percentile), and he had issues with throws all season. It was Alonso’s high throw to first base to a covering Kodai Senga that led to Senga’s hamstring injury in June.”
Run prevention is just as important as scoring runs, especially in the playoffs where the Mets want to be at on a consistent basis. Alonso’s defense is notably bad which is why many believe he will be used primarily as a DH moving forward or at least DH more frequently.
It will be a big decision for David Stearns and the Mets as they begin to make plans on reshaping the roster for next season and beyond.
