New York Mets, Superstar Avoid Salary Arbitration
The New York Mets and first baseman Pete Alonso have reportedly agreed to a one-year deal to avoid salary arbitration, per MLB.com.
Alonso and the Mets agreed to a $20.5 million contract. He will be a free agent after this season.
The first baseman has been the subject of rumors all offseason as he entered his final arbitration season. The Mets have also turned over in terms of management, with new president of baseball operations David Stearns and manager Carlos Mendoza.
This agreement doesn’t preclude the Mets from getting a long-term deal done with Alonso at some point this season. But Alonso’s agent, Scott Boras, is likely to want his client to test free agency after next season.
Recently, Stearns hinted at the franchise’s desire to keep Alonso for the long term.
In that case, the Mets might try to trade Alonso at some point in 2024. The trade deadline is July 30. The Mets could choose to trade him earlier than that. But his status throughout 2024 will be a storyline.
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.
Alonso has the worst batting average of his career in 2023, as he slashed .217/.318/.504/.821. But, he hit 46 home runs and drove in 118 runs in spite of the average. He missed a handful of games with an injury.
Earlier Thursday the Mets avoided arbitration with pitcher David Peterson, outfielder Tyrone Taylor and pitcher Joey Lucchesi.
