With rumors continuing to circulate around the New York Mets, their status as prime players at the trade deadline is becoming more plausible. Multiple general managers now anticipate that New York will trade Pete Alonso, the three-time All-Star and arguably the face of the franchise.
ESPN’s Jeff Passan reported on this in his June 4 trade deadline preview, noting that the minimal return the Mets would receive if Alonso left in free agency might drive the decision to trade him.
“Considering he makes $20.5 million and the Mets would only get a fourth-round draft pick in compensation for letting him sign elsewhere due to their enormous payroll, multiple general managers said they expect new president of baseball operations David Stearns to trade the All-Star first baseman,” Passan wrote.
Despite having the highest payroll in baseball, according to Spotrac, the Mets have struggled to a 27-35 record, placing them 16.5 games behind the first-place Phillies. They are only 3 games out of a Wild Card spot, but the Mets must now assess the likelihood of securing that spot—and of making a significant impact in October—against the potential benefits of an in-season fire sale.
Barring an unexpected turnaround, the Mets will likely choose the latter option.
### The Pete Alonso Trade Market
Alonso declined a seven-year, $158 million extension last year from the Mets, as reported by Joel Sherman of the New York Post. With his current contract expiring after the season, Alonso could be a half-year rental for a contending team, broadening his potential destinations and reducing the asking price for his services.
If traded, his new team would acquire a player who has hit 40 or more home runs each of the past two seasons and has maintained his health throughout his major league career. Excluding the COVID-shortened 2020 season, Alonso has played in at least 152 games every year since 2019, making him an appealing extension candidate. This could favor big-market teams that might offer more for a chance to secure him long-term, despite The Athletic’s Jim Bowden indicating he is widely expected to re-sign with the Mets in the offseason.
Bowden also speculated in late May about Alonso’s potential destinations, naming the Astros, Mariners, Guardians, Twins, and even the Yankees as possibilities.
Teams might be wary of Alonso’s apparent decrease in hard contact, with a 40.1% hard contact rate compared to 47.7% in 2021, as noted by MLB Trade Rumors’ Anthony Franco. Nevertheless, Alonso continues to hit for power in a pitcher-friendly park.
### The Mets’ Trade Chips
All eyes are on Queens as the deadline approaches because, in addition to having the highest payroll, the Mets possess the most assets that could become available.
Alonso will be the centerpiece of any trades, but Franco suggests the Mets could also trade Sean Manaea, J.D. Martinez, Luis Severino, Harrison Bader, Adam Ottavino, Jose Quintana, or Jake Diekman.
The likelihood of a Mets fire sale increases with the possibility that they may be gearing up to pursue Juan Soto in the offseason. Don La Greca of the Michael Kay Show speculated this week that Mets owner Steve Cohen might be willing to spend whatever it takes to outbid the Yankees, especially given the Mets’ current struggles.
“If it gets ridiculous, where you start dancing around $60-plus million a year, I think the Yankees are gonna tap out,” La Greca said. “And the more embarrassing the Mets are; and the more dysfunction that happens there; and the more losing that happens there, Steve [Cohen] may be willing to go that extra mile with the money.”
Cohen has previously shown his willingness to make significant financial commitments, and if it involves upstaging the cross-town Yankees, it’s certainly a possibility. However, Soto left the Yankees’ June 6 game against the Twins with forearm pain, so the outcome of his MRI results will influence further speculation.
