Jul 28, 2023; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets first baseman Pete Alonso (20) reacts after grounding out to end the third inning against the Washington Nationals at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
MLB: Washington Nationals at New York Mets
(New York, NY) – With Opening Day set to take place later this week, it’s a popular time for MLB scribes to pen their annual “prediction” articles.
These typically involve picks for MVP, predictions as to who will win Rookie of the Year, and way-too-early selections as to who will play in the World Series.
Of course, baseball’s rosters and landscape will be different later this summer from how things are here in early spring. The MLB trade deadline is always a source of intrigue, and The Athletic’s Jim Bowden predicts a bombshell is on the way for late July in Queens.
Bowden says the Mets will move slugging first baseman and face of the franchise Pete Alonso ahead of or on July 30. His “prediction 10” reads:
“The July 30 trade deadline is wild and crazy as first basemen dominate the news: The Mets trade Pete Alonso to the Cubs, the Cardinals trade Paul Goldschmidt to the Astros (Houston upgrades from a declining José Abreu) and the Blue Jays trade Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (and his additional year of team control) to the Giants.”
The idea the Mets will look to move Alonso has been rumored and bandied about for months now – especially since the Milwaukee Brewers reportedly engaged New York in extended talks surrounding the prolific power hitter last trade deadline.
With 192 career homers entering the season, Alonso ranks 4th all time in Mets’ franchise history. He’s also been a fan favorite more or less since his debut in 2019. So why would the team trade him?
Alonso’s impending free agency is the main argument. He will be free to sign with any team following the conclusion of this year’s World Series unless he and the Mets come to a contract extension ahead of that point.
It’s also worth nothing that Alonso’s agent is Scott Boras, who’s notorious for driving a hard bargain once players hit free agency.
One need look no further than the extended free agency period for Blake Snell, Matt Chapman, Cody Bellinger, and newly-signed Mets DH J.D. Martinez – Boras isn’t afraid to wait on a new deal in a bid to get every remaining dollar. Jordan Montgomery remains a free agent with Opening Day just days away. It’s fair to say that Boras will negotiate hard to secure a massive payday for Alonso.
The rumor mill has consistently churned in terms of connecting the Cubs and Alonso. One can certainly understand why: the right handed power hitter would make Wrigley Field look like a tee ball band box on days the wind was blowing out. Chicago also certainly has the money to ink Alonso to an extended deal. But then, so does Mets owner Steve Cohen.
Cohen recently addressed Alonso’s situation earlier this month and said: “We know how to do this. We did it with Edwin [Diaz], we did it with Brandon [Nimmo] after the season. We’ll figure it out when we get there.”
Bowden’s prediction makes for some eyebrow-raising copy in late March. Will that become reality come the dog days of summer? Only the baseball gods know for now.
