Sal wants, and believes, Pete Alonso will eventually sign a long-term deal with the Mets, sending him on his way to becoming the best position player in franchise history.
But, Sal wants Alonso at a price, as the prolific slugger enters his final offseason before free agency.
"I personally don't believe Pete is $300 million player," Sal said. "I also don't believe any team out there will give Pete $300 million.
"Even for me, $250 million for Alonso is a lot. If you told me $250 million, I would say some team out there would give him $250 million, but I don't know if I would for there if I'm the Mets."
Alonso recently switched agents to Scott Boras, who is known for getting his contracts big paydays. Alonso will certainly be seeking one of his own, and Sal believes Steve Cohen will pay it. But after both Freddie Freeman and Matt Olson recently signed contracts for less than $200 million, Sal hopes Cohen doesn't go too far, to the point where other, better superstars are off the table.
"If I'm the Mets, I'd say 'Pete, we love you, we want you hear long term, here's where we value you,'" Sal said. "Maybe $200 million, maybe $210, maybe $220. But I'm not going beyond $220 million, where I could go out there and give Ohtani or Soto $500 million, and they're better players.
"He thinks he's [Aaron] Judge…you're not gonna get that. The Mets will pay him whatever the market value is, unless it gets out of hand like with [Jacob] deGrom."
