Sal Licata is growing frustrated with the Pete Alonso situation, as the Mets still have a clear need at first base and a power bat in the middle of the lineup behind Juan Soto, yet Alonso has still not been signed.
Why, with pitchers and catchers reporting to camp in less than a month, is Alonso still out there for the taking? Sal is starting to wonder if the Mets even want their homegrown slugger back in Queens.
“I don’t know what they’re waiting for,” Sal said. “For the first time, it made me start to think, maybe they don’t want to tie up even a three-year deal for Pete.
“This does not make sense that the two sides would still be far apart, even with Pete coming down to three years. The Mets have a clear need. For the first time, I’m starting to think that maybe the Mets don’t want Pete, even for three years.”
According to reports, Alonso and Scott Boras came back to the Mets with a three-year offer that they did not take to any other team, yet an agreement still hasn’t been reached. If David Stearns and company aren’t biting on that deal for one of the best home run hitters in baseball since 2019, then how far down would Alonso have to come to keep him in New York?
Better yet, why have no other teams bit at this point?
“There’s not one other offer for Pete Alonso?” Sal said. “I almost get the feel...do you feel like the Mets even want Pete Alonso back? They want him to what extent? If it’s not a three-year deal, then what? A one-year deal?”