The New York Mets were so far away from the National League division lead and a National League wild-card spot, so the team decided to sell at the trade deadline. They were trading key pieces, including Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander, two pitchers heading to Cooperstown. As well as dealing closer David Robertson to the Miami Marlins. Slugger Tommy Pham and utility man Mark Canha were also changed. Canha was heading to the Milwaukee Brewers, but as it turns out, Canha wasn’t the only player from the Mets they were after. Milwaukee had its eyes set on one of the best power hitters in the game.
How Close Did The Mets And Brewers Get To A Major Trade?
Mets All-Star first baseman Pete Alonso has instead, surprisingly, been the subject of trade rumors. Thanks to Alonso becoming a free agent after the 2024 season. With Alonso having another exceptional season and blasting 39 home runs, his contract will look enormous when it’s time to pay. On Tuesday evening, as the Mets lost to the Atlanta Braves 3-2, The Athletics Ken Rosenthal broke the news that Alonso was a central part of the Mets’ trade discussions with the Brewers. Milwaukee coveted Alonso and wanted to add him to a lineup that needed a boost.
Pete Alonso was center of trade talks with Brewers. Will Mets make move in offseason? Story: https://t.co/zxApzu7SWp
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) August 23, 2023
How close did this trade come to actually happening? Well, according to one Brewers source, close. The source told Rosenthal that the two sides came within “field goal range” of a deal being completed. A Mets source would dispute that claim and state that a deal never got that close. The prospects that Milwaukee would’ve sent back to the Mets in exchange for the Polar Bear are unknown. Alonso was asked about the report after New York’s loss to Atlanta.
Pete Alonso was asked about reports of the Brewers talking to the Mets about trading for him:
— SNY (@SNYtv) August 23, 2023
“I don’t know what the future holds, but right now, I’m a Met and I love being a Met. I take in putting on the jersey every day and representing the city of New York.” pic.twitter.com/0Sr1Q4ssSg
What This Means And The Future Of Alonso In Queens
With the Mets in their position at the deadline and Alonso’s contract situation, it shouldn’t be a surprise they were listening to offers for him. New York was having a fire sale after all, and with Alonso being a free agent soon, teams like the Brewers would inquire about him. Why wouldn’t they? He has the most home runs in baseball since 2019 and is a significant run producer. Of course, the Mets will listen to offers and see how much of a haul they can get for him. The question is how serious the team is in potentially trading Alonso away.
Trading away guys like Scherzer and Verlander is one thing, but trading a homegrown star is another. Mets fans have already experienced enough homegrown stars go in the middle of their primes in the team’s history. From Tom Seaver being traded to Darryl Strawberry, José Reyes, and Jacob deGrom leaving in free agency. Only a select few Mets homegrown players have started and ended their careers with the club, such as Ed Kranepool, an original Met from 1962, and David Wright. Plus, replacing the production Alonso gives the Mets every year is hard. Regardless, this news is interesting for Alonso’s future, and the Mets’ actions in the offseason just got placed more under the proverbial microscope. Getting a deal done with Alonso should be the first thing on their to do list this winter.
Main Photo Credits: Joe Puetz-USA TODAY Sports
