Will the Polar Bear return to Queens after hibernating for a free agent winter?
Pete Alonso got the party started in Game 5 to make sure the Mets didn't lose what was possibly his final game at Citi Field, even as he said after that win he wasn't thinking about that.
Unfortunately, a loss in Game 6 in LA means the Mets won't be coming back to Queens this season, so it is time to think about the Polar Bear's future in blue and orange…even if he still isn't.
"I don't know, I haven't really thought that far, but we'll cross that bridge when we get there." Alonso said in the aftermath of Sunday's season-ending loss. "Right now, I'm just kind of shell-shocked that the season's over, because once you get on this kind of postseason run, you kind of don't really think that it's going to end ever, because we've overcome so much and we performed really well in big spots. I never really had anything else other than winning the World Series with this group in my mind."
Alonso got a chant from the Queens faithful in Game 5, and it's clear from the way he talked about that on Sunday night that the feeling is mutual.
"I love this place. This place has been really special. This is all I've known. It's just been a blessing and an honor," Alonso said. "I've really enjoyed all my teammates that I've had, the coaching staff, all the people that have come through the door. I can't thank everybody enough for not just the past six years, but all of the people that helped get me to the big leagues and the minor-league system."
Alonso's 5.0 WAR across the last two seasons is second-most among pending free agent first basemen, and considering he's four years younger than Christian Walker (6.4), he's arguably the No. 1 target for teams looking to upgrade.
The Mets should be in the mix as well, as short of moving Mark Vientos to first and plugging in another young player at the hot corner, anything else beyond Alonso would be a downgrade of sorts – and it seems like Polar Bear is happy coming back to Flushing after hibernating for the winter.
"So many people have helped me get to this point over the past nine years; this is all I've known, and I've loved every second of it," Alonso said. "It's been a blessing to be a Met. I'm honored to be a Met. It's just been so special."
