One of the most puzzling stories of the MLB offseason was the saga of New York Mets first baseman Pete Alonso, the most prolific home run hitter in the history of the 63-year-old franchise. Despite sitting in third place all-time after 2024 for most home runs in the first six years of a career, Alonso’s free agency drew very little interest around the league.
According to new reporting this week, however, Alonso has already decided to pursue another free agent bid after this season.
The four time All-Star sat and watched as fellow first basemen Christian Walker, Paul Goldschmidt and Carlos Santana all received offers and signed contracts.
Walker at age 34 moved from the Arizona Diamondbacks to the Houston Astros on a three-year, $60 million deal. Goldschmidt went from the St. Louis Cardinals to the New York Yankees on a one-year, $12.5 million contract. Santana signed with the Cleveland Guardians from the Minnesota Twins for a single season at $12 million.
‘Polar Bear’ Sought 9-Figure Deal
The 6-foot-3-inch, 235 pound Alonso, known by the nickname “Polar Bear,” had already turned down a seven-year, $158 million contract extension offer from the Mets, which led MLB experts to believe that the 30-year-old was seeking a long-term deal worth somewhere in the neighborhood of $200 million.
In the end, Alonso re-signed with the Mets anyway â but on a two-year deal worth $54 million. But the two-year deal could turn out to be a one-year deal, because the contract contains a player option, better known as an “opt-out,” for 2026.
And according to reporting by Anthony DiComo of MLB.com on Monday, “opting out” is exactly what Alonso has been strongly hinting to teammates he plans to do.
Alonso On Verge of Mets Immortality
The report came on the same day that Alonso, in a game against the Guardians, belted his 25th home run of the season and 251st of his career.
That leaves Alonso just one home run short of tying the all-time Mets record held by Darryl Strawberry, an eight-time All-Star and 1983 National League Rookie of the Year who played for the team through the 1990 season, launching 252 homers in a blue-and-orange Mets uniform.
Alonso could tie that record as early was Tuesday, and will certainly break it, becoming the Amazin’s all-time home run leader within the next several games.
After Breaking Home Run Record, Alonso is Gone
According to DiComo’s reporting, once he breaks the record, Alonso fully intends to opt out of his contract.
“As he approaches Strawberryâs record, Polar Bear Pete is concurrently nearing another career inflection point. From the day he reported to Spring Training in February, Alonso began referencing his newly signed two-year, $54 million deal as ‘kind of like a bridge thing just to get to the next contract,’” DiComo wrote.
“He all but said he planned to break Strawberryâs record, then opt out,” the MLB.com reporter continued. “But once Alonso reaches that mark, his ties to the organization will only deepen. Would he really become the franchiseâs home run king and immediately leave?”
Why not? If he stays healthy for the Mets’ remaining 49 games, Alonso will have the numbers to earn himself the free agent payday he was reportedly seeking last offseason.
Though his home runs are somewhat down â he is currently on a pace for 36, which would be the second-lowest total for a full season in his career â his current .869 OPS is second only to his rookie year (.941 in 2019). His .356 on-base percentage is also an even closer second to the .358 he recorded in 2019.
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