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The New York Mets are not exactly having a great 2024 campaign, leading to speculation that they could ultimately trade first baseman Pete Alonso before the MLB trade deadline as a result.
But why would the Mets trade their most popular slugger?
Well, Alonso is set to be a free agent after the season, so New York would risk losing him without much compensation if it doesn't move him beforehand. As a matter of fact, all the Mets would get if Alonso walks in free agency is a fourth-round compensatory draft pick, which is why multiple general managers are expecting the Mets to trade Alonso, via Jeff Passan of ESPN.
New York tried to sign Alonso to a seven-year, $158 million contract extension last summer, but Alonso turned it down.
Given how high the Mets' payroll is, it would be very risky to try and bring back the fan favorite on a lucrative long-term contract next offseason. After all, he already declined $158 million over seven years.
Alonso is slashing .234/.307/.463 with 13 home runs and 30 RBI over 257 plate appearances this season.
Pete Alonso is far from the only Mets player who could be available
While Alonso may be the most high-profile player the Mets could trade, he will almost certainly not be the only player available if New York goes into sell mode over these next couple of months.
Outfielder Starling Marte, designated hitter J.D. Martinez and starting pitchers Luis Severino and Sean Manaea are other players who may interest teams, although the fact that Marte has another year left on his deal at a tick under $21 million may be off-putting.
Essentially, the Mets will (or at least they should) probably gauge interest in any of their veteran players who could make for interesting trade candidates. Plus, if they move Alonso, nothing is really stopping them from attempting to sell off other pieces, as well.
Let's face it: New York isn't very good. It is 25-35 and sits four games out of the final Wild Card spot in the National League. The fact that the Mets are that close to Wild Card contention says more about the state of the NL than it does about the Mets, but no one is taking New York seriously as a legitimate contender.
The Mets have all sorts of problems. They aren't good offensively. They rank 22nd in ERA. Kodai Senga has yet to pitch a game this season due to a shoulder injury and has had multiple setbacks. Their team is also fairly old, as seven of their nine regular hitters are either 30 or older. The same applies to their starting rotation, which features four hurlers who are at least 30.
New York's farm system has improved, but it could still use some work. That's why owner Steve Cohen and general manager David Stearns should take even greater measures to continue bolstering the minor-league system to build from within.
Obviously, Cohen's money moves have not worked. They have been disastrous, as a matter of fact. You don't have to look any further than Francisco Lindor and Edwin Diaz to see that. Trading Alonso and some other pieces would be a fine start to rebuilding a Mets club that is in desperate need of a culture change.
