Despite Reported “Plan B,” Possible Alonso Reunion Remains Alive
Over the last week or so, the New York Mets have made a handful of moves to begin rounding out their roster for the 2025 season. The team brought back fan-favorite Jesse Winker, and brought in former Brave and left-handed reliever A.J. Minter, both on low-cost and short-term deals.
Reports from a plethora of reputable sources have indicated that the Mets are shifting to a “Plan B” for the remainder of their off-season, presumably without bringing back slugger Pete Alonso, but they have yet to address their biggest remaining concern: lack of a starting corner infielder.
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Where Is the Alonso Situation Up Until Now?
Following along the timeline of the situation, not much has changed despite different reports: First, it was reported by the New York Post that the Mets wanted a solution with Alonso “soon.” A few different leaks followed containing rejected offers, one from the Mets and one from the Boras/Alonso camp. A few days later, the Mets signed Winker but under the guise that Winker was a part of the Mets’ plans post-Alonso. On January 16, Robert Murray of Fansided reported that the Mets and Alonso had remained in contact and were discussing a possible deal, despite reports of their breakup a few days prior. Murray points out that the two teams “have talked recently and it’s clear that each side is the best fit for each other.”
The Blue Jays are said to have interest in Alonso, but questions arose of their interest following their signing of Anthony Santander. His list of other potential suitors is getting more bare, and the Mets remain the only team that has been recently tied to Alonso. Conversely, the Mets’ options at first base are limited, and short of moving Vientos to first and allowing one of their younger infielders take over at third, it is hard to see where else the Mets could pivot to in this situation.
As some of the dust begins to settle and potential “other plans” for both sides close up, a few key aspects are becoming clearer. For one, the Mets needed a left-handed bench bat to platoon at DH and a lefty reliever regardless of what the Mets and Alonso decide. While the Mets might have switched the order in which they wanted to fill these holes, the order itself does not matter much. It would not make sense for the team to begin missing on pieces they feel they need as they wait out the Alonso situation.
Two truths remain: The Mets needed a corner infielder, specifically one of the right-handed hitting and power-providing variety, and Pete Alonso needs a home, with the Mets seemingly the only team that has consistently been in on the slugger all offseason. The longer this situation drags on, questions about where Alonso as a person might fit also arise. Regardless of what happens in the coming weeks, Alonso is arguably the Mets’ best home-grown offensive player since David Wright, is pound-for-pound the best power hitter in the team’s history, and cemented himself as an all-time Met after his historic playoff performance in 2024.
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Alonso Could Cement Himself in Mets History Books
If Alonso were to return, he would very likely set the Mets’ all-time home run mark, as he currently sits 26 off the mark set by Darryl Strawberry. He would likely become only the 11th or 12th player to ever record 1,000 hits with the Mets, but that could change depending on how the careers of Jeff McNeil and Brandon Nimmo finish as both players sit above Alonso on the list. He would be on pace to become the 12th Met to play in 1,000 games with the team and could challenge David Wright for the team’s all-time RBI record if he stays long enough. He’s currently 384 RBIs short of Wright. He’s 147 shy of Strawberry for second place.
If Alonso were to reach these marks, or even some of them, he could find himself on the Mets’ offensive Mount Rushmore. Simply breaking Strawberry’s career homer mark likely gets his number retired later on. Alonso is a fan favorite, his jersey was a top-15 seller across MLB last season, and he is responsible for several of the greatest moments in franchise history. If Alonso were to leave Queens and head elsewhere, the fanfare from the Mets fanbase and his place in franchise history would not be matched with a new team. If he were to struggle again in 2025, the patience he receives from Mets fans would not be comparable elsewhere.
Simply put, a return to the Mets all but guarantees that No. 20 might be the next offensive player’s number to be retired in Queens after Wright’s No. 5 is hung in the rafters this summer, but a departure all but guarantees that it is not.
Where Will This Go?
To this point, a resolution between the Mets and Pete Alonso hasn’t been reached. The franchise icon remains on the open market, and the Mets remain without a starting corner infielder. All signs point to a reunion between the two sides, and logic paints a picture that the two need each other and are a great fit for each other. Until his name is signed on a dotted line elsewhere, it is hard to envision Alonso playing for a different team.
On the flip side, until they announce another player, it is hard to envision the Mets employing a different running mate to Mark Vientos than Alonso in 2025. Common sense, reasoning, and underlying factors still point to Alonso and the Mets hammering a deal out before spring training begins in one month, regardless of what reports say. Until the two sides break apart and officially sign off on other plans, a Pete Alonso return to the Mets remains the most logical option of all.
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