Pete Alonso should be a clear return choice
Written by Dalton Allison
Now that Christian Walker has signed with the Houston Astros for three years and $60 million, the stage has been set for Pete Alonso to either come back to Queens, or find a new home. Walker became a coveted free agent after establishing himself as a middle of the order bat and a gold glove caliber first baseman. The only possible knock on Walker’s profile is that he’s been a late bloomer, and will be 37 when his contract expires. Alosno will step to the plate, and try to exceed the value that Walker received.
According to Jeff Passan however, it seems as if there’s a lack of interest across the league in Alonso’s services. The league-wide perception about Alonso is that Alonso’s contract will age poorly due to his profile as a right-handed power hitting first baseman. Alonso did his part to make things interesting this postseason by providing a top postseason moment in Mets history, clocking a go-ahead home run off of Brewers closer Devin Williams to help the Mets cinch the wild card round. Despite that success, it was almost a given that Walker would be the one to sign first. Is Walker really that much better of a player than Alonso that teams would rather have him?
There’s no denying that Walker is a better defensive first baseman, and that he had a better 2024 season than Alonso. However a look at both players head to head since 2021 reveals that Alonso has been a better player, and it’s not particularly close. Despite defensive difference between the two, Alonso has a bWAR advantage of 2.3, and knocks Walker out of the park on stats like home runs (157-105) and RBI (431-327). Alonso has the superior slash line, .246/.336/.499 with an .835 OPS, while Walker has a .249/.328/.462 with a .790 OPS.
Aside from a better regular season track record, Alonso is also a superior playoff performer. In 16 games in the postseason, Alonso has crushed 5 home runs and slugged a 1.003 OPS. Compare that to Walker’s 17 games with one home run and a .710 OPS. Compound that onto the fact that Alonso’s performance came in an incredibly tough media market, while Walker’s struggles happened under the less bright lights in Arizona.Of the two options to be had outside of Alonso, the two names that come to the top two are Carlos Santana and Paul Goldschmidt. A pivot to either of them could prove that the Mets are looking to strike for Vladimir Guerrero Jr. in the next offseason, but would could weaken their lineup in 2025. While Goldschmidt and Santana both represent veteran first base experience, they just can’t replicate what Alonso will bring to the table.
One thing that can’t be discounted is the commitment that Alonso has made to the Mets organization and community. He has entrenched himself in philanthropic initiatives, and has become a leading community member. While of course this won’t be a determining factor in whether or not he will return, it’s almost a guarantee that Alonso’s off field value, in the community and in jersey sales, will not be matched, regardless of the player that will be brought in.
During the course of the 2024 season, nearly every Met fan was guilty of wanting Alonso gone at the end of the season. Now, many are in the stage of trying to downgrade his value to cope with potentially losing him. Yet, there is no one on the market, even when Walker was still on the market, that could replace or replicate what Alonso does. No, he is not a sterling defender, but he has worked hard to make great strides in his abilities at first. In addition to providing hard to find consistent power, Alonso also always seems to make his way into the lineup.
Walker received a lot attention this of season, and rightfully so for the profile he has established for himself. However, it is hard to discount and just forget about what Alonso can bring to the table for a team looking to establish a dynasty. Alonso is a team-first slugger who shows up every game in the toughest media market in the country. He has dedicated his time with the Mets ti making his mark on the fans and in the community with his dedication to service. While the market will take a while to develop, the Mets should absolutely bring Alonso back and help to solidify a lineup that just added the best hitter of its generation.
Pete with the Mets is really the best fit. But, Pete’s a free agent now because he values his services way beyond what the Mets value his services. He decided to let the market set his value, which is his right, and as noted by others, the market is more in line with the Met valuation. I agree with those suggesting a return to the Mets on a short deal with a player opt out. Unless he can find a buyer in a spot in a big hitters park, hitting in the Met lineup could benefit him most and the team as well. But, there is no reason for the Mets to overpay here, despite the sentiment to keep him as a home grown Met.
I’d still go 5/125 but he won’t get the reported deal he earlier got.
Like the saying goes, some days you’re the dog, some days you’re the hydrant.
I also think a lot of teams see him as inevitably being on the Mets, and just not getting involved for a RH hitting 1B that is a 1.5 dimensional player. I still think his defense is better than what he gets credit for.