For the second straight winter, Pete Alonso will be a free agent.
The Mets first baseman told reporters after Sunday’s agonizing, season-ending loss to the Marlins, that he would opt out of his deal and become a free agent, meaning New York will have to once again go to the negotiating table if the team wishes to keep its homegrown star.
Alonso and the Mets had a sometimes contentious negotiating period last offseason, with owner Steve Cohen openly expressing his disdain for the nature of the negotiations with Scott Boras. But as fans clamored for a deal to be done, even after a down year from Alonso, the two sides agreed to a one-year, $30 million deal with a player option for 2026.
Alonso responded with a bounceback season, swatting 38 home runs and batting .273 with a 145 OPS+, and set the franchise record for career home runs, passing Darryl Strawberry. He will look to get a raise on the open market, though that doesn’t mean his seven-year with the Mets is over.
“Playing for this organization, this city, they've continued to believe in me,” Alonso said Sunday, via SNY. “I love playing here. There's some great guys in this clubhouse, some great people on the staff. Every single day, it's been a pleasure coming to work and putting on the orange and blue.
I've really appreciated it and have been nothing but full of gratitude every single day.
“Nothing is guaranteed, but we'll see what happens. I've loved being a Met. Hopefully, they've appreciated me the same.”
Alonso has made his choice, but star closer Edwin Diaz has not. The 2025 All-Star told reporters in a somber Mets clubhouse that he has not decided whether or not he will opt out of his deal, as he has a player option for 2026 as well (and 2027 if he elects to opt in).
“I want to go home and talk to my family. I always like to make a decision with my family,” Diaz said. “If I decide to opt out, I would love to come back.”