Mets give Pete Alonso a well-deserved, record-setting raise

As it turns out, if you lead the league in home runs as a hitter, you ought to get a raise. It doesn’t matter that you are making near the MLB minimum. The New York Mets‘ slugger and starting first baseman Pete Alonso will receive the largest amount of money ever paid to a second-year player.

The Mets came to an agreement with Alonso this week on a $652,521 salary, a source told MLB.com’s Anthony DiComo. That is the largest amount of money in Major League history for a sophomore.

“For the Mets to make this happen, it’s incredible,” Alonso said to MLB.com. “I truly care about my teammates, my peers, the people I work with every day. And I care about the fans. I care about the city. So to be rewarded is fantastic, because for me, I give blood, sweat and tears to this organization. I’m willing to do whatever it takes to win.”

In a league in which, after a few years of playing time, even mediocre players can make millions, paying rookies and second-year players the right amount has long been an issue. However, the New York Mets rewarded Alonso’s dedication and excellent performance by paying him roughly $90,000 more than the league minimum.

Per the current system of MLB salaries, the first three years of service time, a player will make somewhere in the neighborhood of $563,000. That is the league minimum for the 2020 season.

Players have little negotiation leverage in those first three years. In the next three years, salary arbitration comes into play, and they have a shot to earn a significant payday. After those six years are up, next up is the open market.

The Mets and other agreements

The Mets also came to agreements with a bunch of players besides Alonso, most notably Jeff McNeil and Amed Rosario.

“I just feel extremely honored to be a part of this organization,” Alonso said. “I feel extremely blessed, because for me, this organization means the world to me. This truly feels like home.”

“I just feel really blessed right now having the [new contract],” Alonso said. “I feel really blessed with what I’ve been given. … If we don’t play well, if we don’t end up where we want to be because I’m worried about something else, then that’s just not productive for anybody. My mind’s focused. I’ve got blinders on. I’m just raring to go. I’m excited about 2020.”