The New York Mets knew they were keeping one of baseball’s premier power bats around when they inked Pete Alonso to a two-year, $54 million deal this offseason. What they didn’t do, however, was commit to him long term — and that might end up costing them.
Alonso’s deal includes a player option for the 2026 season at $27 million, but if he keeps this up, there’s no way he’s exercising it. He’s going to want—and likely get—every last penny of a much larger, multi-year deal when he hits free agency next winter.
One of the Best Starts in Baseball
The 30-year-old slugger is on a tear to open the 2025 season, and it’s not just the homers. Over his first 23 games, Alonso is slashing an absurd .341/.444/.695 with six home runs and 24 RBIs.
He’s been the definition of plate discipline, posting identical 14.1% walk and strikeout rates. He’s not just hitting for power—he’s seeing the ball better than ever and punishing mistakes with authority.
Alonso’s 210 wRC+ puts him in elite company, indicating that he’s been 110% better than the average MLB hitter. That’s MVP-caliber territory, and he’s already piled up 1.5 WAR just a month into the season.
Quietly Impressive Defense
While most of the attention goes to his bat, Alonso has also cleaned things up defensively. He currently holds a perfect fielding percentage and has chipped in one defensive run saved at first base. He’s never going to win a Gold Glove, but this version of Alonso is doing everything you could ask for on both sides of the ball.
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Playing for the Payday
The writing’s on the wall: Alonso is playing for his future. The Mets didn’t commit to him long-term last offseason, and that has clearly lit a fire. If he keeps up this level of production, not only will he decline his $27 million player option for 2026—he’ll command a contract well beyond that figure annually.
New York might want to get ahead of it while they still can, because every day Alonso stays hot, his price tag gets steeper.