QUEENS, NY — Pete Alonso has the Mets’ all-time home run record. Now, the next question in his power-hitting pursuit is just how big his final tally in blue and orange will be.
“There’s only one way to find out,” Alonso said with a grin.
He is surely going to exercise the opt-out clause in his two-year contract this winter thanks to what has been a resurgent campaign. Following his two home runs on Tuesday night against the Braves, giving him the record No. 253 and 254, he has 28 home runs, 96 RBI, and an .880 OPS in 119 games.
He is the greatest power hitter in franchise history, and has the chance to become the first superstar homegrown product to see out an entire healthy career with the Mets, and even potentially pursue 500 home runs.
But for that to happen, president of baseball operations David Stearns and owner Steve Cohen have to play ball.
“I have a goal to play baseball until I’m through my age 40 season,” Alonso said. “So for me, I’m going to work hard and do that. On the business side, Steve and David, they gotta come through.”
Easier said than done.
After last winter, in which his free agency saga nearly caused a split between him, Stearns, and Cohen, the two parties agreed on a two-year, $54 million deal that included this player following the 2025 season.
A thin market ultimately helped push the reunion. Alonso was coming off his worst full season as a pro with a .788 OPS, 34 home runs, and 88 RBI in 162 games. His market should be much more intense this offseason, and his agent, Scott Boras, will be looking for the long-term, big-money deal (more than $30 million per season) that they could not secure last season.
“Yeah for sure [my resume is better than last year heading into free agency],” Alonso said. “For me, I love the city of New York, I love the fan base. It’s been great. But the business is the business side if they choose to go in another direction. For me, it’s been an absolute treat and pleasure here. I mean, this group is really special. This group is one of the biggest reasons why I came back.”
And it is the reason why he wants to stay, too.
“We just have an incredible group here that has a great purpose,” he added. “It’s been great playing here. I hope it doesn’t end.”
His long-time teammate and the longest-tenured Met, Brandon Nimmo, hopes it doesn’t end, either. The prospect of securing his status as a Mets lifer pushed the veteran outfielder toward signing an eight-year, $162 million deal following the 2022 season.
“I know it was a motivating factor for me. If it was a motivating factor for me coming back, then it’ll be a motivating factor for him,” Nimmo said. “There’s only one organization that you’re drafted by. There’s only one organization that you come up with and set these marks with. To have to restart is not something everyone wants to do… You’d like to put your flag in the ground and rally around it.”
That is a bridge for the Mets and Alonso to cross when they get there. For now, they are trying to reestablish a playoff push after two rough months, which will feature a few more home runs for Alonso to tack on to his newly-acquired franchise record.
This is a record that could stand for quite some time if he stays in Queens a bit longer.
“I hope that it [stands for a long time], but records are meant to be broken,” Alonso said. “But there are plenty of guys who are in this clubhouse. For example, you got Juan [Soto] who’s guaranteed 15 years here… He can for sure do it… I’m really honored and humbled, and it’s really special for me.”
