ORLANDO, Fla. — Another day, another piece of the Mets’ franchise fabric removed.
Pete Alonso joined the ranks of the former Mets on Wednesday, agreeing to a five-year contract worth $155 million with the Orioles, according to industry sources. The agreement occurred one day after Edwin Díaz departed Queens for the Dodgers as a free agent.
Alonso, the franchise’s all-time home run leader, did not receive an offer from the Mets, according to sources. Alonso visited the Winter Meetings on Tuesday — driving 90 minutes from his home in Tampa — to meet with interested teams, but didn’t convene with Mets officials.
Since the season’s conclusion, the Mets have moved on from Alonso, Díaz and Brandon Nimmo, leaving holes that must be addressed by president of baseball operations David Stearns.
Alonso’s departure shouldn’t have been a surprise given the two sides nearly didn’t reach agreement last winter. Alonso ultimately returned on a two-year deal worth $54 million that included an opt-out. Alonso announced immediately after the season concluded his intention to exercise that opt-out, and followed through after the World Series concluded.
“I loved being a Met,” Alonso said following the final Mets game. “Hopefully they appreciated me.”
In 2023, Alonso rejected a seven-year contract offer from the Mets worth $158 million. His new Orioles contract, added to his salaries over the past two seasons, places his guaranteed dollars at $205 million over the same seven years. He will jump into the AL East in a hitter-friendly ballpark in Baltimore — a venue in which he’s played 10 games and blasted five homers.
Alonso was in position to cash in following a season with the Mets in which he posted a .272/.347/.524 slash line with 38 homers and 126 RBIs. He played in all 162 games for a second straight season and received a fifth career All-Star selection.
Pete Alonso catches the ball to get an out during a Mets game against the Rangers last season. Getty Images
The market for Alonso was set following the five-year contract worth $150 million that Kyle Schwarber received Tuesday for a return to the Phillies. The Orioles were among the bidders for Schwarber and were in position to offer Alonso essentially the same deal.
Alonso’s departure leaves the Mets without protection for Juan Soto in the lineup. Soto, who arrived last offseason on a record $765 million contract, hit a career-high 43 homers last season, with Alonso hitting behind him. Alonso also brought scarce right-handed power to the lineup.
“Right-handed power is a commodity,” Alonso’s agent, Scott Boras, said earlier in the week. “A guy that can play on the dirt is a commodity.”
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But there were concerns about the 31-year-old first baseman’s range, as Stearns looks to improve defensively. Last month Stearns traded Nimmo to Texas for Marcus Semien, bringing the Mets a Gold Glove second baseman.
The Mets also still have to address left field, the starting rotation and bullpen. Devin Williams’ arrival on a three-year contract worth $51 million represents their only free agent addition on a major league deal this offseason.
Alonso, nicknamed “Polar Bear” upon his arrival to the Mets in 2019, became a fast favorite with the fans by establishing an MLB rookie record with 53 homers.
In August, Alonso moved ahead of Darryl Strawberry for first place on the franchise’s all-time list by blasting homer No. 253. Alonso finished his Mets tenure with 264.
“Pete is a great Met,” Stearns said in October. “He had a fantastic year — I said this last year and it worked out — I would love to have Pete back and we’ll see where the offseason goes.”
Stearns reiterated at the Winter Meetings this week that the organization would “love to have Pete back.”
Cody Bellinger is among the free agent options who could give the Mets coverage at first base and in the outfield. Internally, the Mets have Mark Vientos, who has played first base sparingly, and prospect Ryan Clifford as possibilities.