Pete Alonso had one foot out of New York. It won’t be farfetched to say that some of the fans of the New York Mets were already talking about him in the past tense. Because months went by and there was no resolution. Not to mention, Steve Cohen really did get hot and express his frustration over the Alonso contract. For him, it was even more difficult than Juan Soto’s deal.
Given Soto’s deal was a whopping $760 million and several perks, this says a lot. But finally, Alonso returned to the New York Mets. And this $54 million deal happened after the fan fest. Yes, the time when fans were shouting, “We want Pete!” But well, it seems like fan cheers were not the only reason Pete Alonso is back.
Brandon Nimmo was in conversation with Joel Sherman and Jon Heyman on The New York Sports show, and there he just revealed the real reason the Mets went out to get Alonso. And it wasn’t just keeping the fan favorite but also about what Alonso brings into the lineup. Especially with a superstar teammate now in line.
Nimmo explained, “I think that was the goal of everyone—it was just finding a way to thread that needle and make it work for both sides. We definitely wanted to see Pete back hitting behind Soto, and I think he’s going to have a great year doing that. I think it’s going to reward him, and he’ll probably get to test the market again next year, which will be great.” So yes, the New York Mets did seem to doubt Alonso as a player. And his stats were not great, so it’s justified too. But there is another layer.
Alonso has been playing a long time, and his presence behind Juan Soto in the batting order is needed. He is the perfect protection for their star slugger. With Alonso after Soto, it won’t be an easy walk for pitchers anymore. They have to pitch carefully, knowing Alonso is waiting in line after. And it’s a smart move for both sides.
Alonso gets his paycheck, which is honestly solid for the year. And with an opt-out in his contract, he can just get into free agency after. And the New York Mets just get a more strengthened lineup with their trust. For now, the Mets got their guy back—and that’s a win in every sense. And another win is Nimmo himself, who is making no less strides.
Nimmo’s progress a game changer for the New York Mets
Brandon Nimmo has been the staple guy for the New York Mets for almost a decade. The $162 million star brings that consistent energy to the field. But another thing that’s constant is also his injuries. He has dealt with plantar fasciitis since last May, and that issue flared up again this postseason. But on Friday, he took a key step—he made his spring training debut. And he was bang on true to firm. He drew a walk in his first appearance too!
For the Mets, having a healthy Brandon Nimmo is more crucial now than ever. They have Juan Soto now, and they have Pete Alonso, at least for this season, and they have that shot of being the ‘it’ team this season. Nimmo’s ability to get on base has been his core strength. He has a career .371 OBP, and that just says it all. And hence pairing him with Soto’s plate discipline can make life difficult for the pitchers on the opposite side.
However, Nimmo’s 2024 was not one for the books. After his straight four years with an OPS of 128 or even better, he fell to 107. That’s quite a dip and his lowest since 2016. But even so, his foot issue might be the core reason for this result. Now he is entering the season healthy and with a division which has the Braves and the Phillies; the New York Mets need him to give his A game.
Do you think Nimmo can get back to his pre-2024 form? Let us know in the comments.
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