Pete Alonso’s nightmarish offseason officially ended Wednesday night when the New York Mets signed him to a two-year, $54 million deal.
The first baseman will earn $30 million in 2025 with an opt-out clause after the season.
The four-time All-Star previously turned down a seven-year, $158 million extension from the Mets in 2023, leaving more than $100 million on the table.
While many expected Alonso to return to Queens, the grueling negotiations surprised many industry observers. Alonso and his agent, Scott Boras, reportedly rejected a three-year, $70 million deal earlier this offseason. Following that rejection, the Mets pivoted, signing outfielder/designated hitter Jesse Winker to a one-year deal and adding left-handed reliever A.J. Minter.
Alonso’s market shrank as teams filled their first-base vacancies through signings and trades. His rejection of the Mets’ qualifying offer meant any signing team would forfeit a draft pick, further dampening his market value.
With Alonso remaining in New York for at least one more year, one MLB insider is revealing how the contract got done.
Related: Pete Alonso re-signs with New York Mets for over $100 million less than team initially offered
Insider: Pete Alonso ‘aired his frustration’ to New York Mets owner Steve Cohen
The breakthrough came after a face-to-face meeting in Tampa. According to New York Post’s Mike Puma, Mets owner Steve Cohen flew to Florida on Tuesday for several hours of discussions with Alonso, Boras, and Mets’ president of baseball operations David Stearns.
Steve Cohen flew to Tampa on Tuesday and met with Pete Alonso and Scott Boras (with David Stearns also present) at Stovall House, a social club, to help close the deal. Alonso aired his frustration about the situation. It was made clear to Alonso he was wanted on the Mets.
— Mike Puma (@NYPost_Mets) February 6, 2025
Alonso “aired his frustration” to Cohen about the contract negotiations.
“Alonso voiced some of his displeasure that he hadn’t received the kind of offer he expected from the Mets,” Puma reported. “Cohen countered with the effect of the qualifying offer and the role it played in suppressing Alonso’s market, as teams who signed Alonso would have to surrender a draft pick.”
.@NYPost_Mets with the EXLUSIVE details inside the Pete Alonso-Steve Cohen sit-down meeting that led to Alonso re-signing with the Mets.
— New York Post Sports (@nypostsports) February 6, 2025
Read more here: https://t.co/Z6TeSKshkN pic.twitter.com/t9B4gw47FM
Cohen emphasized that the team wanted Alonso to stay.
Following the meeting, negotiations accelerated, leading to Wednesday’s agreement. Now Alonso aims to bounce back to rebuild his market value before potentially testing free agency again after the season.
