Jul 19, 2023; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets first baseman Pete Alonso (20) is greeted in the dugout after scoring in the fourth inning against the Chicago White Sox at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports
MLB: Chicago White Sox at New York Mets
(Queens, NY) – After word broke Tuesday that the New York Mets had hired David Stearns as their new president of baseball operations, fans immediately began to wonder: what will he do with the roster? When pondering the key questions facing the Mets, how will Stearns answer?
The biggest issues facing New York are both P’s: perhaps first and foremost, pitching. Despite a vaunted history of starting pitching, the Mets find themselves severely lacking in that regard. Kodai Senga and Jose Quintana are the only two names more or less assured of coming back next year. That means three-fifths of the starting rotation needs to be filled next year. Stearns has a history of focusing on developing pitching through the minor league ranks (drafts and trades) while with Milwaukee. He also cut his teeth as an executive in Houston, where the Astros’ front office has routinely prioritized developing and trading for pitching – to much success.
Suffice it to say, Stearns will consider it important to fill out the rotation and upgrade where possible. What will be more intriguing is determining what Stearns thinks of Tylor Megill and David Peterson – who have had up and down seasons, and careers that fit a similar description.
But acquiring pitching and building up the organization’s depth in that regard are no-brainers. Especially considering how poorly the team pitched this year. And the bullpen is no exception – beyond rehabbing closer Edwin Diaz, nobody is a lock in the pen for 2024.
The issue grabbing headlines, and the biggest area of mystery for the Mets, involves the elephant in the room – or maybe more like the polar bear in the freezer. Pete Alonso. Rumors and reports have suggested the team looked into trading the prolific slugger at this year’s trade deadline. The word is the Mets’ asking price was also significant, and that the team may have been “doing its due diligence” rather than truly being interested in moving Alonso. The 28-year-old first baseman is already among the most prolific power hitters in Mets history, and would be a safe bet to finish as the team’s all time HR leader (currently Darryl Strawberry at 252, Alonso has swatted 146 on his career) if he finishes his playing days in Queens.
Of course, Alonso is far from a perfect player. His batting average this season is a putrid .224, and his .329 OBP is not impressive. He’s worked hard to improve his defense, but remains limited in the field. As a baserunner, he’s not a complete clogger on the basepaths, but he’s a net-negative in terms of speed. Most people agree he’ll sign a contract for somewhere around five to six years, for anywhere between $175 and $200 million.
Alonso and his agents may feel as though a deal trending closer to $250 million (or $300 million!?) would be appropriate. Given he’s set to become a free agent in 2025, it would make sense that the Mets could either look to extend Alonso this offseason, or trade him for the best package available. Chances are, Stearns would look to acquire young, controllable pitching in any such a deal.
So what does Stearns think of Alonso? As a lifelong Mets fan who grew up going to Shea Stadium as a kid, does he understand the importance of Alonso being a big time fan favorite? How much does that factor into his thought process? These are all legitimate and pressing questions. Mets fans eagerly await the answers.
