Insider shares contract, trade possibilities for Mets' Pete Alonso

MLB insider Jon Heyman of the New York Post hinted the New York Mets could either re-sign or trade All-Star first baseman Pete Alonso before players report for spring training next February. 

"I’d suggest $175M for five years," Heyman said about a realistic offer that big-spending Mets owner Steve Cohen could present to Alonso's camp this fall or winter. "That’s more than Paul Goldschmidt (of the St. Louis Cardinals at $130M, five years) or Freddie Freeman (of the Los Angeles Dodgers at $162M, six years), but the market has changed." 

Alonso is eligible for free agency after the 2024 season and was the subject of numerous trade rumors even before the club's fire sale that may or may not be related to Cohen punting on next year. Most recently, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reported this week that the Milwaukee Brewers "made a significant push to acquire" Alonso before the trade deadline.

Rosenthal added that "a Mets official disputed the characterization that a deal with the Brewers was within reach," and Heyman noted that "a Mets person told us they weren’t close to dealing" the three-time All-Star. 

It's hardly a secret that Cohen plans to hire former Brewers president of baseball operations David Stearns to serve as team president at some point after the 2023 campaign ends. Heyman mentioned that "Stearns' presence could enhance the chances of an Alonso trade (to Milwaukee), if only because he knows their system and people."

Chris McMonigle of Audacy pointed out on Friday that Alonso is a beloved fan favorite who could eventually become captain of the Mets and the face of the franchise. As much as Cohen understandably wants to restock the minor league system to build a sustainable winner, doing so at the cost of trading a potential future Hall of Famer may prove to be easier said than done for a businessman who knows Citi Field could be quite empty for next summer if the Alonso-less Mets have a losing record.