Pete Alonso has hired the BorasCorp to represent him as he heads toward free agency at the end of next season, and while new Mets team president David Stearns told reporters that he expects Alonso to be the starting first baseman on Opening Day, Gio isn’t buying it.
In fact, Gio has a sense of dread that Stearns is going to trade Alonso.
“I have no idea what David Stearns thinks about Pete Alonso, but I have a bad feeling they’re going to trade him,” Gio said. “The new guy comes in…’Are we gonna pay Pete at 30-something years old, close to $40 million a year? What are we, crazy? We trade him, get a bunch of prospects, we’re in rebuilding mode, and we thank him for his time.’
“I want him to stay. I think he should stay, and I want him to retire a Met. But I’m afraid Mr. Dweeb is gonna roll right in here and trade him.”
The Mets and Alonso were reportedly far apart on extension talks last offseason, before Stearns came into the picture. His name also came up in trade rumors around the deadline this past summer, again when Stearns wasn’t around. But Gio could see Stearns unloading Alonso for a prospect haul to rebuild the Mets in his vision.
“There’s gotta be a reason why these contract negotiations have stalled,” Gio said. “I think the reason why was that Steve Cohen was waiting for David Stearns to come in as president, and he’s going to let him make that decision.”