Inside The Mets

Mets' Jeff McNeil Sends Clear Message on Pete Alonso

Jeff McNeil would love nothing more than to have Pete Alonso back next season and beyond.
Logan VanDine|
Feb 16, 2023; Port St. Lucie, FL, USA; New York Mets second baseman Jeff McNeil (1) and first baseman Pete Alonso (20) during spring training workouts. Mandatory Credit: Rich Storry-Imagn Images
Feb 16, 2023; Port St. Lucie, FL, USA; New York Mets second baseman Jeff McNeil (1) and first baseman Pete Alonso (20) during spring training workouts. Mandatory Credit: Rich Storry-Imagn Images | Rich Storry-Imagn Images

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Pete Alonso's teammate and best friend is sending a pretty clear message to him regarding his uncertain future with the New York Mets.

Speaking on MLB Network's Hot Stove on Tuesday, infielder/outfielder Jeff McNeil talked about some of the Mets' offseason additions they have made so far. Despite being very excited about the addition of star outfielder Juan Soto and veteran relief pitcher A.J. Minter, he would love nothing more than to have Alonso back.

"I hope that he's a Met. He is one of my best friends that I've ever played with and I would love to have him around, but I want what is best for him," McNeil said.

Aside from his impressive first go-around in the major leagues during the second half of the 2018 season, McNeil has spent his entire big league career with Alonso as his teammate. So, it's easy to understand why McNeil is hoping the Mets and the slugging first baseman can agree on a new contract.

McNeil spoke earlier during the offseason about Alonso's ongoing free agency process to Anthony Rieber of Newsday and said he was "surprised" that Alonso is still a free agent. McNeil also added during that interview that he has not spoken with Alonso since the beginning of the offseason despite their close friendship.

Although Alonso has been one of the league's most prolific power hitters since his 2019 rookie season, he hasn't gained much traction on the open market; the Toronto Blue Jays and the Mets themselves are considered the only realistic teams that could sign the 30-year-old first baseman. After SNY's Andy Martino reported on Monday's episode of Baseball Night in New York that the Blue Jays may not be able to match the Mets' reported three-year, $70 million deal they offered Alonso, this free agency process doesn't look like it will end anytime soon.

While McNeil is making it very clear that he wants his buddy to remain in New York for the upcoming 2025 season and beyond, the Mets seem to be standing firm on their contract offers for Alonso. Time will only tell if the Polar Bear will be back with the Mets or not.

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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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