The Mets and Pete Alonso will avoid arbitration.
The two parties came to terms on a $20.5 million contract for the 2024 season, avoiding arbitration, a source confirmed to the Daily News. Alonso was arbitration-eligible for the final time and the 29-year-old will be a free agent following the conclusion of the World Series.
The Mets also agreed with five other players on contracts for 2024, right-hander Adrian Houser, left-hander Joey Lucchesi, left-hander David Peterson, right-hander Drew Smith and outfielder Tyrone Taylor.
The Mets and Alonso have not yet had any meaningful discussions about a contract extension and with Scott Boras now representing the 2019 NL Rookie of the Year it’s likely he will hit free agency and test the waters. However, last winter Brandon Nimmo, another Boras Corporation client, did the same thing and ended up signing an eight-year, $162 million contract to remain with the Mets throughout the prime of his career.
President of baseball operations David Stearns likes to keep contract negotiations private and did not provide specific comment when asked Wednesday during a Zoom press conference. However, Stearns has said many times this winter that the slugger will not be traded.
Alonso has continually expressed a desire to stay in Queens.
In five Major League seasons, Alonso has been named to three All-Star teams and received MVP votes in those same seasons (2019, 2022 and 2023). The former Florida Gator led the league in home runs with 53 in 2019 and RBI with 131 in 2022. Last year, he struggled at the plate at times, turning in a career-low average of .217. However, he still hit 46 home runs and posted a .821 OPS.
The Tampa native is an important clubhouse leader and will continue to play a big role for the Mets next season. Should the club fall out of playoff contention early on in the season, there will be questions about his future in a Mets uniform. But for now, fans can take solace in the fact that he will be the Opening Day first baseman and that there will be no nasty arbitration battles preceding free agency.
