MLB Rumors: Mets Had Trade Talks Over Surprising Player at Deadline

It was certainly an unexpected trade deadline in 2023 for the New York Mets. A team that had spent umpteen millions of dollars last winter to be a World Series contender was instead a seller at the deadline, dealing off superstar assets like Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander.

And according to reports, the greatest home run hitter in Mets history, Pete Alonso, could have been next. Insiders reported that Alsonso was one of "10 or 11 players" who they had on the trade block. And it's all because of a lack of a long-term contract, and the complexities of getting there with the Polar Bear.

Pete Alonso’s Mets future complicated amid large gap in valuation https://t.co/2s1DhYYhoI pic.twitter.com/RlwDvH2cKc
— New York Post Sports (@nypostsports) August 12, 2023

Alonso has one more year of team control, with arbitration due again for the 2024 season. But after that, all bets are off, and without an extension, he'll become a free agent.

With the Mets in a "retooling" mode now, will they want to commit a massive 10-year contract or something similar to a then-29-year-old whose best years are likely behind him? According to Joel Sherman of the New York Post, there's a huge gap in valuation of a potential Alonso deal between the player's camp and the team. In addition, he writes, "Alonso not being signed long-term would make him easier to trade this offseason or at the 2024 deadline if the Mets fail to contend again."

Look, it's not like Alonso hasn't delivered for the Mets. He has the most home runs in all of baseball (yes, including Aaron Judge) since he came into the league in 2019.

Reminder: Pete Alonso has the most Home Runs since Pete Alonso's rookie season pic.twitter.com/ikP8TBnslv
— Mets'd Up Podcast (@MetsdUp) August 11, 2023