Risky Mets Trade Idea Reunites Pete Alonso With $44 Million Disappointment

Risky Mets Trade Idea Reunites Pete Alonso With $44 Million Disappointment originally appeared on Athlon Sports.

It wasn’t long ago—less than two weeks, in fact—that the New York Mets were 21 games over .500 and 5 1/2 up in the NL East.

Welcome to the June swoon, one already raising serious concerns in Queens. Pete Alonso and the struggling Mets fell to 46-32 and a game out of first place after Sunday’s 7-1 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies.

Now is when teams, especially those with championship aspirations, explore getting aggressive—and for the Mets, that might mean a reunion with veteran pitcher Steven Matz.

Mets fans surely remember Matz, a 2009 second-round pick who went 31-41 with a 4.35 ERA over six seasons. Though he arrived with high expectations, Matz flamed out and left following a disastrous 2020 campaign.

Matz is now a 34-year-old reliever with the St. Louis Cardinals, and he’s posted a 3.19 ERA across 42 1/3 innings. He’s continued his exceptional control, striking out 39 and walking only six in 22 games.

St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Steven MatzTim Vizer-Imagn Images

“That could make him a coveted option for clubs seeking bullpen help,” MLB.com’s Thomas Harrigan wrote, “though the Cardinals will likely have to eat some money to get back a notable return.”

Indeed, Matz is in the final season of a four-year, $44 million contract. Of course, big contracts have never deterred the Mets from pursuing them during the Steve Cohen era.

Does Matz make sense for the Mets? He does, and he doesn’t. Matz has impressed as a multi-inning reliever, though that’s not necessarily what the Mets might need the most right now.

The Mets need another reliable starting pitcher, especially with Kodai Senga recently hitting the injured list with a hamstring strain. If the Mets and Cardinals swing a pitching trade, the Mets are better off adding Miles Mikolas (4-5, 4.31) or Erick Fedde (3.54 ERA in 84 innings) than bringing Matz back to Queens.

Matz has flashed as a starter in the past, and his Mets tenure is remembered as a disappointment because fans occasionally saw those highs. However, now isn’t the time for a reunion, not unless the Cardinals intend to eat a significant amount of money.

This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 23, 2025, where it first appeared.

Risky Mets Trade Idea Reunites Pete Alonso With $44 Million Disappointment

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