The New York Mets have agreed to a two-year, $54 million contract with first baseman Pete Alonso, sources told ESPN on Wednesday. The deal includes an opt-out after the first season and Alonso will make $30 million this year. Alonso, 30, will rejoin the team he has only played for, after a lengthy free agency.
Alonso’s consistent run production helped boost the Mets through lean years and made him a fan favorite and franchise cornerstone. However, his production declined over the past three seasons. Despite this, Alonso remained capable of special moments, including a late-season three-run home run that helped send New York to a series against Philadelphia.
The deal brings Alonso back to Queens as the Mets add outfielder Juan Soto on a record-breaking 15-year, $765 million contract. The team’s lineup will now feature Alonso, Soto, and emerging star third baseman Mark Vientos in key holes. The Mets’ roster has been refashioned with new additions to their pitching staff and bullpen.
Alonso rejected a seven-year, $158 million contract extension from the Mets in 2023 and sought a long-term deal on the open market. However, coming back to the Mets was always the likeliest possibility, even as owner Steve Cohen publicly expressed frustration with the trajectory of negotiations.
Source: https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/43711708/sources-pete-alonso-returning-mets-2-year-54m-deal