MLB Insider Predicts Mets Will Put Slugger On Trade Block
The New York Mets took a swing at Shohei Ohtani and missed. The Mets took a swing at Yoshinobu Yamamoto and missed.
The Mets’ free agent moves to this point have been mostly low-level as president of baseball operations David Stearns non-tendered more than 10 players in November and sought to build depth along his roster.
The contours of the Mets for 2024 are still taking shape. The goal for the franchise is still to be a factor in 2025. That doesn’t appear to have changed as the Mets preparing to give back $100 million to MLB for spending big, violating the upper reaches of the Competitive Balance Tax threshold for the second straight year and having little to show for it.
That may not change in the near term. USA Today insider Bob Nightengale provided 10 predictions for the rest of the offseason leading into Spring Training.
One of those prediction was that he didn’t expect the Mets to make any major moves by Spring Training. He cited the Mets’ goals for 2025, their excessive payroll from 2023 — 374.7 million — and the turnover in hiring not only Stearns but a new manager in former New York Yankees bench coach Carlos Mendoza.
There’s a lot going on in Queens right now and coming this week the Mets have to get deals done with their arbitration-eligible players. That includes slugging first baseman Pete Alonso, who could be due $22 million at the arbitration deal unless his agent and the Mets can get a deal one.
Alonso’s agent is Scott Boras, by the way.
Almost as an aside to the Mets not looking to make big moves was Nightengale’s prediction about Alonso:
The New York Mets … will not sign a marquee free agent the rest of the winter and will put All-Star first baseman Pete Alonso on the trade block in July.
The idea of Alonso being traded is not a new one. It’s been speculated upon since the 2023 season ended. One of the more popular trade partners has been the Chicago Cubs, which have an opening at first base.
Back in November, Stearns addressed the rumors but didn’t exactly squash them.
“We’re fortunate to have him,” Stearns said. “I’m looking forward to watching him play this season, and I’m not going to predict the future.”
But getting an arbitration deal done with Alonso and waiting until the July 30 trade deadline may have its benefits, too. If Alonso produces at his career averages come the deadline, the Mets may be able to get the highest return possible for him.
In his five Major League seasons Alonso is a three-time All-Star, former National League Rookie of the Year and has 192 home runs, including a MLB-leading 53 his rookie season in 2019.
That could fetch major value for the Mets on the trade market, whether it’s now or in July.
