The way 2023 is going for the New York Mets, this offseason is going to be an interesting one. Each aspect of this Mets squad is going to need serious improvements for 2024. Owner Steve Cohen has not shied away from spending money on players and trying to improve the team. Based on how he operates, there is no other reason to think he won’t do the same. However, the first thing that needs to be on his offseason checklist is giving an extension to the team’s resident slugger, first baseman Pete Alonso.
The Value of Pete Alonso
Since being called up in 2019, Alonso has carried the Mets on his back. Becoming one of the best first basemen and overall players in franchise history. Doing so in just a few short years and he still has many more left in him at just 28 years old. Alonso kicked off his freshman season by winning National League Rookie of the Year. Setting a rookie record for the most home runs in a single season. Taking the league by storm.
❄️🐻❄️🐻 ❄️🐻❄️🐻
— New York Mets (@Mets) September 29, 2019
🐻 ❄️
❄️ 🐻
🐻❄️🐻❄️ 🐻❄️🐻❄️
🐻 🐻
❄️ ❄️
❄️🐻❄️🐻 ❄️🐻❄️🐻 pic.twitter.com/v7gUjhzDNQ
Alonso has more home runs than any other player in baseball since 2019 with 168, more RBIs than anybody in baseball since 2019 at 429, and the 5th most extra-base hits in baseball since 2o19 with 269. Alonso led MLB in RBIs with 131 in 2022.
Home Run Derby Slugger
The MLB Home Run Derby is a fun part of All-Star week, and Pete Alonso has made it must-see television. Winning back-to-back tournaments in 2019 and 2021. Bashing a total of 131 home runs and becoming the fourth player to win two Home Run Derbys and the third to win it in consecutive events. Alonso competed in the 2022 tournament, making it past the first round before being defeated by Julio Rodríguez. Alonso and the Home Run Derby are now synonymous with each other, and he’s sort of a video game final boss for the Derby. It will just be more fun with Alonso in it.
On this date one year ago, Pete Alonso became the Home Run Derby champion 🐻🙌
— SI MLB (@si_mlb) July 8, 2020
(via @MLB) pic.twitter.com/jU8seZX0p5
A Polar Bears Love for Baseball
Pete Alonso has been called many things by baseball fans outside Flushing Meadows. The truth is he loves the game. Displaying it every day he steps out on the field, and he very rarely misses any time. Playing almost 600 games through his first 5 years in the Majors. In 2022, he played in 161 games for the Mets. Earlier this season, he hit the injured list with a wrist injury that was supposed to keep him out for 3-4 weeks. He was able to make it back in 10 days. It’s that commitment that makes him so valuable to the team. If New York does agree to a new contract with their All-Star slugger, there’s no doubt he should be labeled the team’s captain.
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A Lifelong Met
The Mets have been around for 60 years but there’s been a small number of players that have started and finished their careers in Queens. Ed Kranepool and David Wright are the firsts to come to mind. José Reyes signed with the Miami Marlins in free agency after the 2011 season. He would eventually make his way back to Queens in 2016 and play another three years with the Mets before officially retiring from MLB in 2020. Darryl Strawberry and Dwight Gooden could’ve been lifelong Mets and Cooperstown bound but personal demons got in the way. Not even Tom Seaver finished his career as a Met. Alonso will enter a contract year in 2024, so it’s even more imperative for Cohen to make sure that Alonso is locked up as soon as possible.
Main photo credits:
Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
Players mentioned:
Pete Alonso, Julio Rodriguez, Ed Kranepool, David Wright, Jose Reyes, Darryl Strawberry, Dwight Gooden, Tom Seaver
