Copyright New York Daily News
LAS VEGAS — Alex Bregman is making a “Brexit” from Boston. Cody Bellinger went from being a Hollywood star, to a “Windy City Wolfman” to a “true iceman, cooling any thoughts that he can’t hit behind [Aaron] Judge.” Free agent pitcher Zac Gallen? Well, a lot of teams are going to be quart-ing him, according to Scott Boras. The MLB super agent gave his usual pun-filled press conference Wednesday at the general manager meetings in Las Vegas. Boras came prepared to entertain the city that bills itself as the Entertainment Capital of the World, but when it came to Pete Alonso, the theme was alliteration. “There’s no doubt Pete’s pursuers are primed to pay the power piper,” Boras said. “Pete picked a perfect period to play preeminently at a primary position. A playoff-parched plethora will pounce to participate in the polar plunge.” In other words, Alonso is expected to have plenty of suitors this winter in his second go-around with free agency. Alonso tested the market last winter, only to return to the Mets on a one-year contract with an option for 2026, which he declined. The first baseman has made it known that he would like to return to the Mets, and the team has said it would welcome a return. The club would like to see how his market develops before making any offers. The Tampa native is reportedly seeking a multi-year contract, with estimates ranging from $100-200 million. The Mets could certainly pay him if they wanted to, but the crux of the argument seems to be his age and defense. Alonso will be 31 when the contract begins and his defense has declined over the last few seasons. While the defense remains a question, it doesn’t seem to be a deterrent. The priority for Alonso, as he has always maintained, is winning a World Series. If that means he has to do it as a DH, so be it. At the moment, it doesn’t appear to be a dealbreaker. “He’s clearly a really good offensive player, and I think for any team, the ability to get his bat in the lineup in multiple ways is helpful,” Stearns said Wednesday. “And it’s great to know that Pete is open to stuff like that.” Boras highlighted Alonso’s durability, something other teams made a point of during free agent meetings last winter. He’s played in all 162 games in each of the last two seasons, and has started the third-most games for a first baseman since 2022 with 598. Only Atlanta’s Matt Olson (647) and the Dodgers’ Freddie Freeman (612) have started more games. First base has turned into a platoon position in recent years, but everyday stars like Alonso, Olson and Freeman provide a certain sense of stability. Alonso has long prided himself on “posting up.” The Mets know they can rely on him daily, and rely on a certain level of play from him daily. “He’s a guy that really has a nature about him where it’s just his duty, no matter how he feels or what he does, to be on the field,” Boras said. “When you’re in rooms for a couple days with teams, it’s funny with all of the elements, what they say is, Pete possesses a pachydermian-like perseverance.” Then, of course, there is his ability to not just play in New York, but to excel in what is largely considered one of the tougher places to play in professional sports. It’s incredibly difficult to find a player who consistently produces like Alonso at the plate, something Boras noted. He’s not someone who can be replaced by three different role players stacked up in a trench coat. The sum of those parts will not be greater than the whole of Alonso. With his boundless golden retriever-like energy, his down-to-earth nature and his deep appreciation for community, Alonso endeared himself to New York City even before he won the 2019 NL Rookie of the Year award. “LFGM” has become a part of the fanbase’s lexicon thanks to Alonso. It’s difficult to quantify that monetarily, but when it comes to a homegrown player who means so much to the fanbase, the emotional factor matters. “He’s an ideal franchise player,” Boras said. “He plays every day and it’s clear that the New York fans relate to somebody who is a workman. That’s who Pete is. When I use the term pachyderm-like, I mean, he is the elephant that goes out there every day. He is impenetrable and he really knows how to manage the pressure of that situation. “I think it’s something he’s very proud of because of the fact that so few have achieved that standing.” Alonso is a lot of things — an elephant, a polar bear and a pachyderm, apparently. Whether or not he remains a New York Met is still unknown.
