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MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN – OCTOBER 03: Pete Alonso #20 of the New York Mets celebrates after hitting a home run in the ninth inning against the Milwaukee Brewers during Game Three of the Wild Card Series at American Family Field on October 03, 2024 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images)
During the MLB offseason, longtime New York Mets star Pete Alonso decided to leave the franchise to sign a deal with the Baltimore Orioles.
It was clear ahead of free agency beginning that the Mets and Alonso could part ways. The slugging first baseman wanted a big contract and New York simply wasn’t willing to give him what he was looking for.
With that being said, Alonso went out into the market and received a lucrative five-year, $155 million contract from the Orioles.
Even though the money is right, Alonso is facing a potentially dangerous outcome of his decision. Last season, Baltimore missed the playoffs and went 75-87. There is no guarantee that the Orioles will be able to contend for a championship.
On the other hand, the Mets were one of the biggest winners of the MLB offseason. Even with Alonso’s departure, New York looks much better suited to make a World Series run than it has been in recent years.
New York Mets Legend Darryl Strawberry Sends Warning to Pete Alonso
Ahead of the 2026 MLB season getting underway, Darryl Strawberry spoke out with strong words about Alonso’s decision to leave the Mets for the Orioles.
“Pete could have broken all the records,” Strawberry said. “He could have been at the top of every offensive category for this organization…One day, he’s going to wake up just like I did, and he’s going to regret [leaving the Mets].”
Those words could end up making for a tough reality for Alonso. If he is unable to help lead Baltimore to winning at a high level, he could be left with a major “what if” question when his career comes to an end.
Alonso finished his New York tenure playing in 1,008 total games. He hit 264 home runs to go along with 712 RBI, while also slashing .253/.341/.516.
Leaving the Mets was a bold decision. Alonso will not regret the payday that he was able to get from the Orioles, but it’s possible that he could miss out on leading New York to a World Series.
What Did the Mets Do This Offseason?
Obviously, the departure of Alonso left a hole for the Mets to fill. As previously mentioned, they were a huge winner of the MLB offseason.
Bo Bichette was the big free agency splash for New York. He was signed to a three-year, $126 million contract. Devin Williams and Luke Weaver were added in free agency to improve the bullpen, while Jorge Polanco was given a two-year, $40 million deal to improve infield depth.
Also, the Mets made a few impactful trades this offseason.
New York acquired second baseman Marcus Semien from the Texas Rangers for Brandon Nimmo. The Mets also acquired outfielder Luis Robert Jr. from the Chicago White Sox and star pitcher Freddy Peralta from the Milwaukee Brewers.
Clearly, the team is going all-in on trying to win a championship this season. Alonso will miss out on being a part of the new-look Mets and it’s a decision he could end up regretting.
Evan Massey Evan Massey is a sports reporter and analyst located in Indianapolis, Indiana who covers the NFL, NBA, MLB, WNBA, and college sports. He has been featured on many publications, including Newsweek, Athlon Sports, ESPN, Yahoo! Sports, Forbes, Bleacher Report, Sporting News, and many others. In his free time, Evan enjoys spending time with his wife and son. More about Evan Massey
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