New York Mets Slugger Has Huge Projected Arbitration Figure

The New York Mets have new management in president of baseball operations David Stearns and are looking for a new general manager after the surprise resignation of Billy Eppler.

But the Mets have plenty to do this offseason, including salary arbitration, and what they have ahead is a lot of work.

MLB Trade Rumors published its annual projections of what each Mets player that is eligible for arbitration could receive. The Mets have 16 arbitration-eligible players in all, with Pete Alonso foremost among them.

If the Mets and their arbitration-eligible players cannot agree on a deal by Jan. 12, then they must exchange figures and go to arbitration. In most cases, teams will come to an agreement on a one-year salary, or an extension, before the deadline.

Players who have three or more years of Major League service but less than six years of Major League service are eligible.

These projections are based on an algorithm to project arbitration salaries that looks at the player’s playing time, position, role, and performance statistics while accounting for inflation.

Here are the Mets that are eligible for arbitration, along with MLB Trade Rumors’ projected figures:

Daniel Vogelbach: $2.6MM

Trevor Gott: $2MM

Elieser Hernandez: $1.6MM

Drew Smith: $2.3MM

Pete Alonso: $22MM

Luis Guillorme: $1.7MM

Tim Locastro: $1.6MM

Joey Lucchesi: $2MM

Sam Coonrod: $900K

Jeff Brigham: $1.1MM

John Curtiss: $1MM

Michael Perez: $800K

David Peterson: $2MM

Danny Mendick: $1.1MM

Rafael Ortega: $1.4MM

DJ Stewart: $1.5MM

Alonso’s arbitration figure could end up being one of the biggest of this cycle, as the five-year veteran could fetch $22 million if this projection is accurate. Stearns and his team must decide if they want to go to arbitration with Alonso, try to sign him long term or even trade him, either during the offseason or at next season’s trade deadline.

There are rumors that Alonso is willing to be dealt, perhaps to the Chicago Cubs.

Alonso has emerged as one of the best power hitters in the game, as he slugged 46 home runs this season in spite of a .217 average.

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.