The New York Mets are very far apart on contract negotiations with star first baseman Pete Alonso, 30. Alonso had quite the 6 year tenure in Queens, ranging from 4 NL All- Star game appearances, being the 2019 NL East Rookie of the Year and two time Home Run Derby Champion.
In 2019, Alonso hit 53 home runs, 120 RBI, batting .260 with a .358 OBP.
In 2022, his arguably best season, he hit 40 home runs and 131 RBI, batting .271 with a .352 OBP.
Alonso followed 2022 up the next year with 46 home runs, 118 RBI, batting .217 with a .318 OBP.
Then he chose to bet on himself for the 2024 season, ultimately seeking a mega deal which could have possibly been obtained, but that’s no easy task.
In 2024, Alonso hit 34 home runs and 88 RBI, batting .240 with a .329 OBP.
Alonso is reportedly seeking anywhere from 175- 200 million dollars and the amount of years remains unknown at this point.
His potential replacement Mark Vientos, 25, has had quite the season bouncing back from a year in which he had to prove he belonged in Queens. In 2023, Vientos was arguably the odd man out, as the team inked J.D Martinez to a one year deal. Vientos . ended up stealing the show, with hitting 27 home runs and having a 3.1 WAR, driving in 71 runs.
This comes back from a player who’s hit 9 home runs and 22 home runs in his sophomore season, where he batted .211 with a .253 OBP, and his rookie season of 2022, where he hit 1 home run with 3 home runs in 16 games, sporting a -0.2 WAR. He keeps getting better and the ability to come through in clutch scenarios makes Vientos a big offensive centerpiece of this lineup that features youthful counterparts Francisco Alvarez, 23, Ronny Mauricio, and LuisAngel Acuna Jr, the younger brother of Atlanta Braves superstar Ronald Acuna Jr.
If Vientos keeps evolving the team could potentially get away with letting the financially high maintenance slugger walk. Vientos is home grown and the goal is to get younger. Alonso is 30. The team has a chance to build with Vientos, significantly younger. The Mets have signed 26 year old slugger Juan Soto, which eliminates half the need for a power bat. I believe it will take everyone contributing to see the difference and get back what was lost if Alonso leaves, but Vientos has potential.
In all honesty, it might just surprise many.
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