Lower than 24 hours after New York Giants icon Tiki Barber publicly suggested free-agent first baseman Pete Alonso to offer the New York Mets a “hometown discount” to return to what’s been the one MLB house of Alonso’s profession final week, MLB Network analyst Jim Duquette reported that Alonso’s camp provided the Mets a three-year deal that included a number of opt-outs.
Throughout Tuesday’s episode of the “Foul Territory TV” program, Duquette defined why the 2 sides have not but put pen to paper on an settlement.
“It has been a staredown…with the Mets and Pete,” Duquette stated, as shared by Grant Young of Sports activities Illustrated. “As a result of there’s some uncertainty that there are a variety of suitors for him proper now. Quite a lot of the primary base choices are closed.”
Duquette was referencing how quite a few groups beforehand linked with Alonso have already addressed first base by way of different transactions, leaving the 30-year-old with out a plethora of reasonable touchdown spots. No matter agent Scott Boras did and/or did not count on Alonso would obtain this winter, it is now clear the 2 have altered their asking value amid negotiations with the Mets.
“I would be actually shocked if Pete wasn’t again with [the Mets],” Duquette added. “However while you begin to see the market go in that course, I feel David Stearns is without doubt one of the vivid[est] presidents of baseball operations within the recreation, and he realizes he would not need to bid in opposition to himself proper now. There aren’t a variety of suitors that it might appear Pete desires to play for. I feel Steve Cohen might have to finally bounce in on this one. I feel that is why it has been held up at this level nonetheless, and till, I feel Steve Cohen might have to leap in on this.”
As Sports Illustrated’s Pat Ragazzo famous, it was Cohen who closed the deal that resulted within the Mets buying All-Star outfielder Juan Soto earlier within the offseason. SNY’s Andy Martino reported Tuesday night that “there stays a spot that’s pretty vital between the Mets and Pete Alonso,” so Duquette could also be proper about Cohen having to be the one that closes that hole earlier than spring coaching begins.
“Whereas individuals have been bending over backward to attempt to discover a touchdown spot for Pete Alonso that is not the Mets, they continue to be by far probably the most logical touchdown spot,” SNY’s Danny Abriano wrote for a chunk printed Monday.
That is all effectively and good, however there is no signal the “Polar Bear” is all that near receiving a short-term contract from the Mets that features the typical annual worth he desires.
