Keith Hernandez believes the Mets need to keep their top two free agents.
Appearing on this week’s episode of The Post’s “The Show” podcast with Joel Sherman and Jon Heyman, the World Series champ and SNY stalwart said that the Mets should re-sign first baseman Pete Alonso, who has said he’s opting out of his deal, and closer Edwin Diaz, who is expected to opt out as well.
“You’re not gonna replace his bat, his power bat,” Hernandez said of Alonso. “To me, he is the second coming of Harmon Killebrew. I had said that in his rookie season. Plus the fact that he’s a right-handed bat, and our lineup is better — we’ve got left-hand hitters in the middle there. Really, our lineup was top-heavy.”
While Hernandez acknowledged some of Alonso’s defensive flaws, he credited him for being good on scoops that save his fellow infielders’ rough throws.
He doesn’t think Alonso’s bat can be replaced.
“To me, if he drives in 125 runs, a right-handed bat, I think they’ve got to sign him,” Hernandez said. “And they’ve got to sign Diaz, too.”
After a relatively down 2024 season and a sit-down with Steve Cohen and David Stearns, Alonso re-signed with the Mets on a two-year, $54 million contract that included an opt-out after 2025.
Alonso, who turns 31 in December, hit .272 with an .871 OPS, 38 home runs and 126 RBIs this year.
Diaz, who will be 32 by Opening Day, had a 1.63 ERA, 0.87 WHIP, 28 saves and 98 strikeouts in 66 ⅓ innings during the third year of a five-year, $102 million contract.
