Inside The Mets

Ex-Mets GM Believes Team Still Needs Pete Alonso or Comparable Replacement

Former Mets GM Jim Duquette thinks the Mets still need Pete Alonso back or add another big bat in their lineup.

Logan VanDine

Oct 8, 2024; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets first baseman Pete Alonso (20) hits a solo home run in the second 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
Oct 8, 2024; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets first baseman Pete Alonso (20) hits a solo home run in the second 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
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During the New York Mets' much-anticipated Amazin' Day fan fest on Saturday, owner Steve Cohen was very frustrated when he talked about the ongoing Pete Alonso free agency saga.

Cohen said that while trying to land superstar outfielder Juan Soto this offseason was "tough," he called the negotiations between him and Alonso's camp worse than that as both sides have been unable to agree on a new deal. Even though Cohen and the rest of New York's front office seem to be at peace with potentially filling Alonso's void at first base internally, former Mets' GM and current baseball analyst Jim Duquette doesn't think that'll make the lineup any better for the 2025 season.

Speaking on MLB Network Radio on SiriusXM, Duquette said the current Mets lineup is not good enough unless the Amazins' can resign Alonso or land somebody else that possesses similar offensive prowess.

"They still need Pete, or somebody like him, to protect the investment they have in Juan Soto," Duquette said.

Adding another big bat similar to Alonso as Duquette mentioned may not be easy, especially since the Mets are reportedly out of the Alex Bregman sweepstakes; Bregman was seen early on this offseason as a potential fit.

With the start of spring training less than a month away and Alonso still on the open market, barring talks resuming between the Mets and the 30-year-old first baseman that could result in the two sides coming together, this is what New York's lineup could end up looking like once opening day arrives:

Duquette certainly does bring up some fair concerns about this projected lineup for the Mets, with perhaps the biggest being if Brett Baty can finally prove he belongs in the major leagues after back-to-back disappointing seasons.

Adding Soto was without question a franchise-altering move, but Duquette does not think that move was good enough for the Mets to make another deep playoff run this year unless they can resign Alonso or land someone who has similar offensive traits.

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Logan VanDine
LOGAN VANDINE

Logan VanDine is a contributing writer for On SI's Mets. Logan is a graduate of Rider University where he majored in Sports Media and minored in Sports Studies. During his time at Rider, Logan worked for Rider's radio station, 107.7 The Bronc as a sports host, producer and broadcaster, and for the school's paper: The Rider News. He began his time with The Rider News as a section writer for sports and was a copy editor for two years followed by being one of the sports editors during his senior year. Logan also placed third in the New Jersey Press Foundation Awards for sports feature writing. Aside from his work at On SI, he is also a writer for FanSided covering the New York Giants and Mets and also covers the Giants for Total Apex Sports. Give him a follow on X: @VandineLogan

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