The Mets and Pete Alonso are back on the clock.
With Vladimir Guerrero Jr. getting a 14-year, $500 million extension from the Toronto Blue Jays this week, the attention now turns back to Alonso, the Mets’ own superstar slugging first baseman, who re-signed with the Mets on a two-year deal shortly before spring training. Alonso has a $24 million player option for 2026, but Guerrero’s contract could reset the first-base market, making Alonso’s services worth more than $24 million.
“It’s just huge for first base,” Alonso said Monday at Citi Field before the Mets opened a series against the Miami Marlins. “I mean, $35 [million per year], I think that breaks the AAV record. Obviously, half a billion dollars is a huge, huge, huge amount. So like for him, it’s a fantastic deal, and it’s great for the first-base market. I think 14 years, he’s just done well, deservedly so…
“And I think right now, you can’t think of the Toronto Blue Jays without Vlad Jr.”
You also can’t think of the Mets without thinking of Pete Alonso. When introduced at Citi Field on Friday afternoon, fans gave him a louder ovation than they even gave Juan Soto or Francisco Lindor. Soto might be the brightest star and Lindor is the heart and soul of the team, but fans hold Alonso in a different respect. The homegrown slugger believed in the Mets when few others did and he gave them a reason to hope back in 2019 when he hit 53 home runs and won the NL Rookie of the Year Award.
Mets fans simply have more history with him.
“I think we’ve seen over the years here that when Pete gets going, he could carry a team,” said president of baseball operations David Stearns. “It’s been fun to see him with some enormous home runs. I think he’s enjoyed it. Hopefully it’s allowed him to take a little bit of a deep breath and he’s kind of earned it. He loves it here. Our fans love watching him, and he’s been a huge part of our win so far this season.”
But Alonso isn’t just important to the fans, he provides crucial protection for Soto in the order.
Alonso is making $30 million this season, a record salary for first basemen, and he’s off to a fantastic start, hitting .290 with a 1.066 OPS, three home runs and 11 RBI, tied for the fifth-most in baseball and fourth-most in the NL. If he keeps playing like this, he’ll be able to opt out of his contract for next year and get more money.
However, he’s made it clear that he wants to remain with the Mets for as long as he can. And while he has not directed his agent, Scott Boras, to inquire about an extension, he’s open to having discussions during the season.
“We’re open to it, but really, my focus right now is just doing what I can to help win tonight,” Alonso said. “Obviously, like, if something happens, or whatever, I’m Scott and Steve [Cohen], or Scott and David will talk about it. But for me, my job is to focus and lock in on the season and win. That’s really all it is.”
Stearns declined to comment on the specifics of Guerrero’s contract extension since it hadn’t been made official by the league as of Monday afternoon. The Mets reportedly had some interest in waiting for Guerrero to become available as a free agent in 2026, but they were unsubstantiated.
The Blue Jays signed the Canadian-born son of Hall of Famer Vladimir Guerrero in 2015, and he made his MLB debut four years later at age 20. Since 2019, Guerrero and Alonso have been among the best first basemen in baseball. Alonso’s 17.8 fWAR ranks him as the fifth-best in that time span and Guerrero at No. 6 with 17 fWAR.
They’re both right-handed hitting first basemen who provide more value with their bats than their gloves. Alonso is four years older at 30 and rates better defensively, but Guerrero has the edge with his age, so while their contracts may not be completely comparable, they’ll likely influence one another.
“He’s obviously a beast,” Alonso said. “For him to get this contract, it’s super sick, so super happy for him
Much like last year when Alonso was faced with questions about his future, it’s something he’s trying not to think about during the season. But if the Mets want to work out an extension, he’s happy to engage.
“Scott’s phone is always on,” Alonso said. “But again, right now, I’m not really too concerned with it because for me to be overly concerned with that kind of stuff, I’d be doing a disservice to this team. For me, I just want to be able to go out there, be the best player I can be and win for this organization.”
