In a recent visit to New York, Pete Alonso reflected on his departure from the Mets after signing a five-year, $155 million contract with the Baltimore Orioles. He hadn’t spoken with Mets owner Steve Cohen or president of baseball operations David Stearns before making the move, which surprised many fans. Alonso mentioned he only connected with a few former teammates and manager Carlos Mendoza during his offseason.
The Mets chose not to make Alonso an offer, which he said didn’t come as a shock. “Things were progressing well with Baltimore,” he shared. Interestingly, a year prior, the Mets had waited until Alonso’s market cooled before signing him to a two-year deal worth $54 million, including a player opt-out clause. After hitting 38 home runs and driving in 126 RBIs last season, Alonso opted out, becoming the franchise’s all-time home run leader with 264 homers during his time in New York.
In a surprising twist, just days after Alonso’s signing with the Orioles, the Mets brought in Jorge Polanco for a two-year, $40 million deal to fill his position. However, Polanco’s performance has been disappointing; he’s struggled with injuries and produced a low batting average, contributing to the Mets’ rocky start this season.
Despite the Mets’ early struggles, Alonso expressed hope for his former team. Reflecting on the 2024 season, when the Mets turned around from a rough start to nearly reaching the World Series, he emphasized that baseball is a long game: “There’s always time. It’s a marathon.”
On the field with the Orioles, Alonso hasn’t missed a game but acknowledged battling early-season struggles. As of now, he’s hitting .198 with four home runs. Orioles manager Craig Albernaz remains optimistic, pointing to Alonso’s impressive metrics, suggesting that a breakout performance is close.
Alonso’s journey raises questions about strategy and decision-making in baseball. With free agency becoming more competitive, many players, like Alonso, rely on performance metrics to secure favorable contracts. The rise of data analytics in MLB is transforming how teams assess talent and make decisions. As fans and analysts watch closely, the impact of such choices will continue to unfold throughout the season.
For more insights on the evolving landscape of baseball and player contracts, you can explore articles from [ESPN](https://www.espn.com) or [MLB.com](https://www.mlb.com).
