New York Mets first baseman Pete Alonso will want “at least $200 million” when he hits free agency this winter, Bob Nightengale reported for USA Today.
Alonso and the Mets avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $20.5 million contract in January.
At the time, MLB.com’s Anthony DiComo reported that there were “no indications” that the Mets were close to agreeing on an extension.
The Mets reportedly offered Alonso a seven-year, $158 million extension last summer but did not reach an agreement with the three-time All-Star, per Joel Sherman of the New York Post.
Alonso is leading the struggling Mets with 14 home runs while slashing .243/.320/.481 through 63 games.
The New York Post’s Jon Heyman similarly reported last August that the Mets may need to offer $200 million in order to reach an agreement on an Alonso extension.
Only 35 players in MLB history have signed contracts with a total value of at least $200 million, per Cot’s Baseball Contracts.
The Mets discussed trading Alonso in July ahead of last season’s trade deadline due to his lack of an extension, as well as the Mets’ lack of postseason potential, Sherman reported.
Holding a 28-36 record and sitting 16.5 games back of the Philadelphia Phillies for the top of the NL East, New York could once more be sellers heading into the July 30 trade deadline.
Alonso’s hopes of a historic extension could potentially limit the Mets’ ability to find a trade partner for his expiring deal.
Contending teams looking for an offensive boost heading into the postseason could still take a swing, however, even if just to have Alonso on a short-term basis.
Alonso was linked in March as a potential trade target for the Seattle Mainers by ESPN’s David Schoenfield and Eric Karabell. As Schoenfield wrote, the Mets could consider selling off the first baseman to a buyer like Seattle for the postseason, but then look to to re-sign him when he hits free agency this winter.
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