Details on How The Mets, Pete Alonso Gained Steam Towards Agreement

Momentum for a Pete Alonso reunion with the Mets began building Tuesday, culminating in an agreement reached Wednesday.

Oct 8, 2024; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets first baseman Pete Alonso (20) reacts after walking in the sixth inning against the Philadelphia Phillies during game three of the NLDS for the 2024 MLB Playoffs at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images / Brad Penner-Imagn Images

After three months of “exhausting” negotiations, as New York Mets owner Steve Cohen described, Pete Alonso is finally back in Queens.

On Wednesday night, the four-time All-Star slugger agreed to a two-year, $54 million deal that includes a player option after the first year. In 2025, Alonso will earn $30 million—setting a new MLB record for the highest one-year figure by a first baseman—and $24 million in 2026 if he does not opt-out.

According to New York Post reporter Jon Heyman, Alonso chose this deal over a three-year, $71 million offer from the Mets, betting on himself to reset his value with a higher first-year salary. In the summer of 2023, he turned down a seven-year, $158 million extension before hiring agent Scott Boras, hoping to secure a bigger payday on the open market.

In the end Alonso was choosing between $54M for 2 years and $71M for 3. He took the shorter deal, betting on himself with the higher first year pay ($30M) #mets

— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) February 6, 2025

Ultimately, a long-term deal never materialized, leaving Alonso with fewer options after most potential suitors addressed first base with other moves in December. So how did the two sides resolve their standoff, which had included public displays of frustration and reports that they were moving in different directions?

The answer: an old-fashioned, face-to-face meeting.

SNY’s Andy Martino reported that Cohen stopped in Tampa on Tuesday to meet with Alonso in person on his way to the owners’ meetings in Florida. The two reportedly met at 1 p.m. with Boras and Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns. While they left the meeting without an agreement, the meeting was a key step in closing the gap between the two sides.

On Tuesday, on way to owners meetings in Florida, Steve Cohen stopped in Tampa to meet in person with Pete Alonso. David Stearns and Scott Boras also there. They met at 1pm, didn’t leave with an agreement , but it was an important step toward that after exhausting process.

— Andy Martino (@martinonyc) February 6, 2025

The New York Post's Mike Puma had additional details to share about the meeting which took place at Stovall House, a social club in Tampa. During this meet up, Alonso reportedly "aired his frustration about the situation." Cohen and Stearns also made it clear to Alonso that the Mets wanted him.

Steve Cohen flew to Tampa on Tuesday and met with Pete Alonso and Scott Boras (with David Stearns also present) at Stovall House, a social club, to help close the deal. Alonso aired his frustration about the situation. It was made clear to Alonso he was wanted on the Mets.

— Mike Puma (@NYPost_Mets) February 6, 2025

Alonso, 30, will continue his career with the organization that drafted and developed him—at least for now. His 226 home runs since his 2019 debut are the second-most in MLB, behind only Aaron Judge’s 232 during that span. The homegrown slugger is just 27 homers shy of the Mets’ all-time record, a mark that could be well within reach in 2025 if his career averages hold.

Even in a down year in 2024, where his slugging percentage dropped for a third straight season, Alonso still ranked in the 93rd percentile in bat speed and the 89th percentile in barrel percentage, according to Statcast metrics. He has never hit fewer than 34 home runs in a full season.

Alonso’s return brings much-needed right-handed balance to New York’s lineup, especially with left-handed Juan Soto now at the center of an offense that also features switch-hitter Francisco Lindor at the top of the order. His presence also allows rising star Mark Vientos to remain at third base, after making notable defensive strides there last season.

Mets preferred to keep Mark Vientos at 3B if they could given the strides he made at the position in 2024

That’s why they explored/checked on Torkelson, Mountcastle and Yandy Diaz

They were prepared/open to move Vientos to 1B but now they don’t have to with Pete Alonso back

— Pat Ragazzo (@ragazzoreport) February 6, 2025

The Mets had been prepared to move Vientos to first base if Alonso signed elsewhere, but for at least one more year, that will not be necessary.

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