The Prodigal Son Returns Home

While reports had been circulating for over a week that Pete Alonso was going to re-sign with the Mets, quoting unnamed sources, on Wednesday, the Mets finally made it official. President of Baseball Operations, David Stearns, held a brief encounter with the media in Port St Lucie to discuss how it came about.

 

It is a good deal for Pete, for the team and for the fans. For Pete, it is a two-year $54MM contract, which he can opt-out after 2025, and revisit free agency. It is the Cespedes version which worked out well for Yoenis Cespedes, where he opted out after 2016 and re-signed a better four-year contract with the Mets.

It is a better deal for the team, because they get another shot with Pete and Juan Soto to achieve last year’s “almost made it” goal and could really do it this year. Barring injuries.

And it is a great deal for the fans since they will bear witness to a long-time home run record being broken, probably in August which was held by Met great, Darryl Strawberry. He has promised to be on hand when that happens. The joint WILL BE jumping.

If they go on to the World Series, and Pete repeats last year’s post-season performance, you can be sure he will be rewarded with that long-term contract he had hoped to get this off-season. That would be his crowning achievement.

Then, in maybe 2035, after he joins the 500 Home Run club, or even the elusive 600 or 700 HR club, he will watch his number be raised to the roof as an all-time Met Great. And all this recent drama will have been worth it.

Welcome Home, Pete!