NY Mets: What stood out about Pete Alonso breaking team home run record
Pete Alonso proved himself to be the Mets franchise’s preeminent power hitter when he set the club record with his 253rd home run on Aug. 13, 2025.
Pete Alonso had a front row seat at Citi Field for a potential glimpse into his future last July.
David Wright stood in the middle of the infield, draped in a powder-blue Mets Hall of Fame jacket and soaked in the love from the club’s adoring fan base.
There had been 10 previous players and managers whose numbers had been retired by the team before Wright’s No. 5 was enshrined, but this moment felt different. This was a player who had only known New York receiving the ultimate honor a franchise can bestow.
Alonso has a chance to receive that same degree fanfare from the passionate fan base in the future. But first comes a choice between the Mets front office, Alonso and his counsel, Scott Boras, as the 30-year-old power-hitting first baseman ventures into free agency for a second straight season, declaring his intentions to opt out of the final year of his two-year contract to explore his options this winter.
A season ago, Alonso’s future with the club appeared to be slipping away before the two parties hatched a two-year, $54 million deal on the eve of spring training.
Now, the Mets, Alonso and his representation must weigh all of their options to decide whether a reunion makes sense from a competitive and financial perspective. Here are all of the factors that will go into that decision:
Pete Alonso’s legacy with the Mets
Owner Steve Cohen and president of baseball operations David Stearns were both Mets fans before they took on leadership stake in the team within the last five seasons.
So they understood the passion that came pouring from the fanbase last February as they chanted “We Want Pete” during a chat at Amazin’ Day at Citi Field. Alonso has earned that allegiance in the hornet’s nest of New York, and that appreciation would have to be earned elsewhere if he decided to go.
Cohen and Stearns will have to deal with the wrath of the fans one way or another.
Beyond the loyalty, Alonso also has the opportunity to further entrench his name into the franchise’s record books if he decides to stay. He could be regarded as one of the club’s best hitters in history with a few more strong seasons.
In August, Alonso joined the pantheon of Mets greats when he set the new franchise home run record with his 253rd and 254th home runs in a win over the Braves, surpassing Darryl Strawberry’s previous mark of 252.
Alonso finished 2025 with 264 career home runs and could put that mark even further out of reach if he decides to stay. He is also 158 RBI away from matching Wright for the club’s RBI record and eighth in runs with 580.
Steve Cohen’s bank account
Despite the front office’s affinity for Alonso and his affection for the city of New York, the decision, in all likelihood, will boil down to dollars and cents.
After inking a short-term deal with an option, Alonso backed up his desire for a long-term contract with 38 home runs, 126 RBI and 41 doubles with a .271 batting average in 2025. Now, Alonso is looking for a contract of at least seven years, as reported by the New York Post’s Mike Puma.
But the market will dictate what Alonso will earn in the future and over how many years in his next contract.
Alonso was arguably the Mets’ most impactful bat in their lineup in 2025, batting .309 with a 1.035 OPS with runners in scoring position, but his defense has been shaky at first base. He posted a -3 outs above average at the position last season and committed 10 errors.
With natural regression expected in quickness, how much longer will Alonso be able to patrol first base before he is viewed as more of a designated hitter.
All those factors will play a role in how much Alonso can net in his next contract. Vladimir Guerrero Jr., who has led the Blue Jays to the World Series, earned a 14-year, $500 million deal last spring, but he is 26 years old.
Freddie Freeman’s six-year, $162 million deal, signed at 32 with the Dodgers, would appear to set precedent for any long-term deal for Alonso, but Kris Bryant’s luckless, seven-year, $182 million deal at 30 years old has proved a precautionary tale.
A lineup without Pete Alonso and the first base market
Alonso’s return makes logical sense, given what the Mets have behind him at first base.
Mark Vientos, who struggled offensively in his second full chance with the Mets, has played first base, but largely at the minor league level. The jury is still out whether he would be able to man the position efficiently.
The Mets also have 22-year-old prospect Ryan Clifford, the club’s No. 8 prospect, working his way up the ranks, but he only has 34 games at the Triple A level under his belt. He posted a .754 OPS with five home runs, 18 RBI and 35 strikeouts in Syracuse last season.
The best available free agent is Josh Naylor, who spent the final few months of the season with the Mariners. While the 28-year-old is a solid defender, he does not pack the same offensive punch as Alonso. Last season between the Diamondbacks and Mariners, Naylor slashed with 20 home runs, 92 RBI and 81 runs while batting .295.
Munetaka Murakami, a 25-year-old out of Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball, spent the majority of his time at third base but has noteworthy first base experience. He led NPB with 56 home runs in 2022.
Other noteworthy free agent options include Cody Bellinger, Ryan O’Hearn, Josh Bell and Paul Goldschmidt.