Mets Star Gets Ranking Boost Entering Next Season
The New York Mets face a big decision when it comes to first baseman Pete Alonso. If the Mets are thinking of life without Alonso, perhaps MLB Network’s rankings may make them think twice.
The network released its “Top 10 Right Now” for the position on Thursday and Alonso came in sixth in the rankings.
Is that an appropriate ranking for the sixth-year pro? It’s interesting to be sure.
Alonso burst onto the scene for the Mets in 2019 and earned an All-Star Game nod that season, as he led all of baseball with 53 home runs while driving in 120 runs and hitting .260. He was named the National League Rookie of the Year and finished seventh in NL Most Valuable Player voting.
He’s continued producing since then. He’s been to two more All-Star Games, won the All-Star Game Home Run Derby twice, and finished in the Top 10 in NL MVP voting one other time.
He also led the Majors in RBI in 2022 with 131. For his career he is slashing .251/.342/.528/.870 with 111 doubles, seven triples, 192 home runs and 498 RBI.
Now comes the hard part for both the Mets and for Alonso. He is entering his final year of team control. He and the Mets agreed to a $22 million, one-year deal earlier this month to avoid salary arbitration. But questions persist about Alonso’s long-term future. The Mets could get him into a long-term extension, trade him sometime this season or try and sign him after the season.
As Alonso’s agent is Scott Boras, it’s likely Alonso will test the market unless the Mets pay up.
Freddie Freeman of the Los Angeles Dodgers was ranked No. 1, followed by the Philadelphia Phillies’ Bryce Harper. Atlanta’s Matt Olson was third, St. Louis’ Paul Goldschmidt was fourth and Tampa Bay’s Yandy Díaz was fifth.
After Alonso, the rest of the Top 10 included Toronto’s Vladimir Guerrero Jr., free-agent Brandon Belt, Arizona’s Christian Walker and Boston’s Triston Casas.
