New York Mets fans have seen this movie before — the star slugger who defines an era, who brings the crowd to its feet and gives the franchise a heartbeat, might be on his way out. It’s Pete Alonso, the homegrown power bat who’s carried the Mets lineup for the better part of a decade. And for the second straight year, the idea of life without him doesn’t sound impossible.
The Front Office Draws a Line
President of baseball operations David Stearns has a vision, and it’s not one that revolves around aging sluggers with limited defensive and baserunning value. Alonso, 30, still hits like few others in the game — 38 home runs and a 141 OPS+ in 2025 prove that — but Stearns has made it clear that he won’t overpay for past production.
He’s not heartless; he’s just calculated. His version of team-building leans on balance, athleticism, and something he’s called “run prevention.” That philosophy leaves little room for sentiment, and even less for expensive one-dimensional bats.
Still, this isn’t just any hitter. Alonso isn’t a replaceable piece — he’s the Mets’ franchise leader in home runs with 264, and one of the faces of their most marketable era since the days of David Wright. His 2025 campaign showed he’s still more than a one-trick pony, too, batting a career-best .272. Yet for all that production, Stearns appears to be holding firm.
The Warning Signs Are There
The rumblings started quietly and have grown louder. Over the weekend, insider Pat Ragazzo suggested that the Mets could let Alonso walk if he doesn’t take a team-friendly deal. Then came USA Today’s Bob Nightengale, who didn’t mince words when asked if Alonso would find a permanent home in Queens.
“Nope,” Nightengale said. “David Stearns was ready to let Alonso walk last year. Alonso had a monster year but they still missed the playoffs, making it easier to walk away now. They are preaching defense, or in the words of Stearns, ‘run prevention,’ and are expected to let him depart unless he signs a deal they can’t turn down.”
For Mets fans, that one stings. It’s one thing to consider trading a declining veteran; it’s another to willingly part with your most beloved player since Wright or Mike Piazza.
The Contract Dilemma
Last winter offered a preview of the tension to come. The Mets waited out Alonso’s market until it dipped into the two-year, $54 million range, then struck a short-term deal that included an opt-out. Alonso used it, walking away from $24 million to test free agency again.
This time, he’s looking for long-term security — and rightly so. A player with his track record deserves it. But how far are the Mets willing to go? Three or four years might be their limit. Anything beyond five, and the odds of Alonso returning fade quickly.
Stearns isn’t opposed to spending, but his moves so far have reflected restraint. If another team — say, the Boston Red Sox, as Nightengale hinted — offers Alonso the kind of payday and commitment he’s seeking, there’s a strong chance he takes it.
The End of an Era?
Since bursting onto the scene in 2019, Alonso has been everything the Mets could’ve hoped for: durable, consistent, marketable, and, above all, productive. His energy helped carry the team through its highs and softened the blow of its lows. Losing him wouldn’t just be about home runs — it would be about identity.
But baseball is changing, and so are the Mets. Under Stearns, this organization wants to win differently — with flexibility, pitching, defense, and long-term sustainability. That might not leave space for a slugger whose value is rooted almost entirely in the power of his bat.
So here we are: a fanbase holding its breath, a star chasing his worth, and a front office refusing to flinch. Maybe that’s business as usual in modern baseball. Or maybe it’s the beginning of a goodbye Mets fans never wanted to say.
More about: New York Mets
