MIAMI — Here we go again: Pete Alonso will be a free agent for the second year in a row.
The Mets’ first baseman confirmed he will decline his player option for 2026 on Sunday night, following the end of the 2025 season, and a 4-0 loss to the Miami Marlins at LoanDepot Park. The Polar Bear could have stayed for $24 million next season, but he boosted his value with another All-Star season.
He made it clear he’s interested in returning to the Mets.
“Every single day, it’s just been a pleasure coming to work and putting on the orange and blue,” Alonso said. “I’ve really appreciated [the Mets] and been nothing but full of gratitude every single day. So I mean, yeah, nothing is guaranteed, but we’ll see what happens.”
Alonso became a free agent for the first time last year, after failing to agree on a contract extension with the Mets. A homegrown franchise cornerstone, Alonso sought a multi-year deal, but was coming off of two down seasons that ultimately ended up costing him years of term. Teams were hesitant to take a chance on a 30-year-old right-handed hitting first baseman who had just posted the lowest OPS of his career in 2024 (.788).
It took nearly all winter to get a contract, but eventually he returned to the Mets for $30 million and a player option. It was where he wanted to be. The Mets drafted him out of the University of Florida in the second round of the 2016 draft, and helped him grow into the player he is now.
The 2019 NL Rookie of the Year and a five-time All-Star, Alonso bounced back this season in a big way, playing in all 162 games and slashing .272/.347/.524 with 38 home runs, 126 RBI (No. 2 in baseball) and 41 doubles (tied for the third-most). His .871 OPS was the 10th best in the regular season.
Alonso didn’t elaborate on what he wants in his next contract in terms of dollars or years, only saying he wants a chance to win the World Series.
“I want to win,” he said. “I know we didn’t this year, but we had the right pieces. I think we just didn’t do it. I think at the beginning of the year, you just want to have the best possible chance to hold up the trophy at the end and see yourself being a champion. So for me, that’s why I do this — I want to be on top of the mountain, I want to win a World Series.
“That’s the ultimate goal.”
No one is quite sure why the Mets failed this season, especially Alonso. They had three players who hit 30 or more home runs, and Brandon Nimmo came close with 25. Francisco Lindor had a 30-30 season, Juan Soto nearly reached the 40-40 mark, and there was talent at every single position.
It wasn’t for a lack of talent, and Alonso says it wasn’t a lack of will either.
“Playing with these guys every single day, I mean there was no question of heart or passion or want, desire or work ethic,” Alonso said. “You can have all of those things and that doesn’t guarantee success. You can be the most dispassionate person ever, but if you go 4-for-4 and drive in 10 runs then it doesn’t matter because that helps the team win…
“But just because you’re passionate doesn’t guarantee positive results.”
Alonso is part of a core of players that have failed to get the Mets to the postseason more than they have succeeded. Alonso, Nimmo and super utility man Jeff McNeil have all been in the organization since they were drafted. Closer Edwin Diaz was added to that group in 2019, and Lindor in 2021. Yet the Mets have only made the playoffs twice in that span, doing so in 2022 and 2024.
“We fell short of expectations for this goal,” Nimmo said. “That’s easily seen by this team. We had a lot of talent. I said at one point in the year, I felt like it was the most talented team that I’ve ever played on, and we weren’t able to make the playoffs. So that’s obviously, coming up short is a failure in my mind.”
A year ago, Alonso’s late-game home run in Milwaukee helped the Mets extend their postseason. Sunday afternoon, he had a chance to play the role of hero again with the bases loaded in the fifth inning and the Mets down 4-0.
His 116 MPH line drive was tracked down by Miami’s left fielder for the third out.
“It was the hardest ball I’ve hit this year, and it split the gap perfectly,” Alonso said. “But he tracked it down. So, I mean, I was just kind of laughing. It’s not funny, but that’s the only thing I can do.”
When the World Series ends, Alonso Watch 2025 will begin.
“I’ve loved being a Met,” Alonso said. “So hopefully they’ve appreciated me.”
