It almost didn’t happen. For Mets fans, the offseason was as cold as a New York winter. Their homegrown slugger, Pete Alonso, was a free agent, and talks were going nowhere. Luckily, a two-year, $54 million deal brought the Polar Bear back to Queens. And his performance after that? Nothing less than sheer fire. On August 12, he hit his 253rd home run, which broke Darryl Strawberry’s franchise record. He did this in 965 games, which is an amazing 144 games faster than the Mets legend.
In this incredible season, he’s batting .272 with 28 home runs and 99 RBIs. The historic achievement he accomplished brought back the most asked question among fans. Broadcaster Howie Rose perfectly captured the moment, asking what it would mean to be a lifetime Met. Alonso’s response was heartfelt and clear. “That’d be really incredible,” he began. “I’ve grown up in this organization… ever since I was a young 21-year-old kid, this organization has believed in me. They’ve continued to believe in me every single day. I’ve nothing but gratitude for the fans, this ownership, my teammates. To finish with one club, that’s a really incredible thing.”
“That’d be really incredible”
Pete Alonso was asked by @HowieRose about what it would mean to finish his career as a Met pic.twitter.com/LhNENPN6OF
— SNY (@SNYtv) August 14, 2025
The journey to that remarkable result, though, is far from simple. Last winter’s negotiations were a sideshow for all to see. Owner Steve Cohen openly stated that the process was “exhausting” and “worse” than the talks for superstar Juan Soto. He was also displeased by Alonso’s agent, Scott Boras, presenting contracts that were “highly asymmetric against” them.
In the end, a “bridge” deal was necessary for both sides. Alonso went for the short-term contract after finding a softer market than expected. This allowed him to bet on himself and re-enter unrestricted free agency. Shortly after signing, Alonso had his eyes on Strawberry’s record. “Of course I’ve given it thought,” he said. “To be a part of this franchise in that way, that’d be really special.” He wanted to chase history in a Mets uniform. He managed to finally catch it, and the pressure shifted back to the front office.
As we see Alonso secure his place in history, the Mets’ front office did something bold. At the time of the breakthrough home run records, President of Baseball Operations David Stearns wasn’t in Queens. In fact, he was in Japan, where, at the time, it was a very public secret that he was there to scout slugger Munetaka Murakami. The 25-year-old “Japanese Aaron Judge” is a powerful younger option. That very public trip sent a cold and calculated message.
Alonso has the records and the fans’ love, but the business of baseball is a different story. Will his powerful bat be enough to keep him in Queens?
The Polar Bear’s value: A closer look
Pete Alonso is known for his game-changing power. Since his explosive 2019 debut, he has become one of baseball’s most reliable players and a powerful hitter. That year, he won the NL Rookie of the Year award. He is also a 5-time All-Star and 2-time Home Run Derby champion. The slugger is not just a powerhouse at the plate, but also very durable. Last year, he broke the Mets’ franchise record for consecutive games played.
Yet the front office has shown a willingness to move on over the years in his time. Before the 2023 trade deadline, the Mets had serious talks with the Milwaukee Brewers. At one point, the teams were reportedly within “field-goal range” of a deal. Ironically, it was against those same Brewers against whom Alonso put up his once-in-a-lifetime play. In the 2024 Wild Card Series, Alonso hits his season-turning go-ahead home run against them. Also, reports of a trade about a “Pete for Pete” swap with the Chicago Cubs for prospect Pete Crow-Armstrong were on the list, which the Cubs quickly declined.
With a player option for 2026, Spotrac projects his value at a six-year, $179 million deal, which would top what Freddie Freeman got with the Dodgers. Analyst Robbie Hyde put out that Alonso may sign with another team. “I wonder how far David Stearns is gonna go… I think there’s going to be a lot of teams in the mix,” Hyde said. “In the end, I think the bidding is going to get too high, and the Mets wind up not matching.”
Throughout all of that time, Alonso had maintained his focus, leaving the business matters to others. “The business is the business side, if they choose to go in another direction,” he said. “But for me, it’s been an absolute treat and pleasure playing here… this group is really special… I hope it doesn’t end.” The king has made his case. Now, Queens waits for the verdict. Whatever the case, it will be sure to be full of entertainment just like the previous season, and decide the future for the franchise. What do you think?
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