The absence of Pete Alonso, the New York Mets' all-time home run leader, continues to be a significant point of discussion, particularly in light of the team's struggles and David Stearns' offseason personnel decisions. Alonso is currently playing at a high level for the Baltimore Orioles, posting an .812 OPS with 22 home runs as of Monday, and has appeared in every game for his new team.
Stearns, the Mets' president of baseball operations, signed Jorge Polanco to address the first base position, but Polanco has primarily played elsewhere. Mark Vientos was also tried at first base before an injury, and while Jared Young has provided some stability, his success is viewed as a less than ideal outcome for the organization. Compounding the issue, Alonso has also excelled defensively, ranking in MLB's 85th percentile with three outs above average, a notable contrast to Stearns' stated offseason goal of improving run prevention.
Team captain Francisco Lindor acknowledged the team's collective feeling about Alonso's departure, stating, "We do all miss Pete. We love him and he’s a great player and he’s going to be one of the greatest Mets to ever play." Lindor added that while he believes the front office made an effort to retain Alonso, the team misses his presence.
The Mets' commitment to keeping Alonso is debatable, especially considering the seven-year, $158 million offer extended to him two years before he hit free agency. Last November, the Orioles reportedly offered Alonso $155 million over five years, a bid the Mets did not counter. Shortly after, they signed Polanco to a two-year deal worth $40 million.
Polanco's tenure with the Mets has been hampered by health issues, limiting him to 101 plate appearances and a .431 OPS. Interim manager Andy Green expressed hope that Polanco will eventually contribute significantly, but acknowledged that his health has impacted the team's lineup.
These offseason moves have contributed to the Mets' current position as sellers heading into the trade deadline, a situation often seen as incongruous for a team with one of baseball's highest payrolls. This marks the second time in four seasons the Mets are selling at the deadline despite constructing a roster that has underperformed.
While it is acknowledged that re-signing Alonso would not have automatically transformed the Mets into a first-place team or a postseason contender, his presence would have provided a notable boost in watchability, especially during the latter half of the season. The team's outlook has also been impacted by Juan Soto's calf injury. Furthermore, Alonso's potential return would have alleviated uncertainty at the first base position heading into the next season.
Stearns aimed to avoid repeating last season's collapse by not retaining the same group of players. However, Alonso, who holds the franchise record with 264 home runs over seven seasons, was a popular figure. His 22 home runs this season would currently lead the Mets. Lindor described Alonso as "one of the greatest teammates I’ve ever had."
Other significant departures from the Mets last winter included trading Brandon Nimmo and Jeff McNeil, and losing Edwin Díaz in free agency. However, none of these moves created as significant a void as Alonso's absence at first base.